Inside The Twins

Twins DFA Joey Wentz after awful month, call up veteran lefty

Wentz gave up 14 runs in six appearances in a Twins uniform.
Will Ragatz|
Jun 17, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Joey Wentz (63) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park.
Jun 17, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Joey Wentz (63) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park. | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Twins

The Twins have designated left-handed reliever Joey Wentz for assignment and replaced him with veteran lefty Anthony Misiewicz, they announced on Wednesday.

Wentz, who was claimed off waivers just under a month ago, had an ugly and forgettable stint in a Twins uniform. Pitching exclusively in low-leverage spots, he allowed 17 hits, nine walks, and 14 earned runs in eight innings pitched over six appearances. That's a 15.75 ERA and 3.25 WHIP.

On multiple occasions in June, Wentz came into a game the Twins were already losing by a lot and only made the final scoreline worse. On Tuesday night against the Cubs, he got the ninth inning with the Twins up 8-0 and proceeded to allow a couple hits, including a solo home run by 40-year-old Justin Turner, who has a sub-.600 OPS this year. That would be Wentz's final appearance with Minnesota.

Replacing him is Misiewicz, who doesn't have great numbers but also has an extremely low bar to clear to be an upgrade from Wentz. Misiewicz, 30, signed a minor-league deal with the Twins this offseason and has a 4.02 ERA in 31.1 innings for Triple-A St. Paul. He has struck out 29, walked 10, and allowed five home runs for the Saints this season.

When Misiewicz makes his Twins debut, it'll be his first time pitching in the majors this season. He's thrown 115.2 innings for five teams over the past five years, most of those coming with the Mariners in 2020-22. Misiewicz has a career 4.67 MLB ERA with 114 strikeouts and 38 walks. He also has a career 4.43 ERA in over 700 innings in the minor leagues.

Misiewicz will step into Wentz's role as a low-leverage arm for Rocco Baldelli. Here's what the Twins' bullpen currently looks like, ordered approximately by leverage and importance:

  • Jhoan Duran
  • Griffin Jax
  • Louis Varland
  • Brock Stewart
  • Danny Coulombe (LHP)
  • Cole Sands
  • Justin Topa
  • Anthony Misiewicz (LHP)

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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