Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Joey Wentz will miss the 2026 season with a torn ACL, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and the AJC’s Chad Bishop. Wentz was injured in a Spring Training game on Sunday, March 8, 2026 when covering first base.
Wentz joins fellow starting pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep in missing at least a big part of the 2026 season, if all all of it, thinning Atlanta’s starting rotation options greatly.
Wentz, once a top Atlanta Braves prospect, re-joined the organization and found some success after being thrust into starting duty when injuries mounted during the 2025 campaign.
The injury to Wentz leaves Atlanta’s starting rotation thin - with Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes in the the top four spots. Bryce Elder is the front-runner for the fifth spot with prospect JR Ritchie a potential option to start the season.
Veterans Martin Perez and Carlos Carrasco are both in camp on minor league contracts. Fellow veteran Jose Suarez, who pitched with Atlanta last season, and returned to the team this off-season after being designated for assignment, is another option.
Wentz debuted for the Detroit Tigers in 2022 and has also appeared for the Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates during his career. He pitched in 14 games with Atlanta in 2025, making 13 starts.
