Jeffrey Benjamin Wendelken ( ; born March 24, 1993) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

in the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

organization. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

and

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

, and in

Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ...

(NPB) for the

Yokohama DeNA BayStars The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Their home field is Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The team has been known by several names since becoming a professional team in 1950. It adopted its current n ...

Career

Boston Red Sox

Wendelken was drafted by the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

in the 13th round, with the 421st overall selection, of the

2012 Major League Baseball draft The 2012 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 4 through June 6, 2012, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Houston Astros, with the first overall pick, selected Carlos Correa from the Puerto Rico Baseball Ac ...

out of

Middle Georgia College Middle Georgia College (MGC) was a four-year state college unit of the University System of Georgia, United States. On January 8, 2013, it was consolidated with Macon State College into a new institution, which is now known as Middle Georgia Stat ...

. He made his professional debut with the

Gulf Coast League Red Sox The Florida Complex League Red Sox are a professional baseball team competing in the rookie-level Florida Complex League (FCL) of Minor League Baseball. The team is owned and operated by the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior ...

, posting a 1.27 ERA in 13 appearances. He began the 2013 season with the Single-A

Greenville Drive The Greenville Drive are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greenville, South Carolina. They are the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and are a member of the South Atlantic League. They play their home games at Fluor Field at the West E ...

, and recorded a 2.77 ERA in 27 games for the team.

Chicago White Sox

On July 30, 2013, he was acquired by the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

in a trade that had Wendelken, Avisail García,

Frankie Montas Francelis Montas Luna (born March 21, 1993) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cincin ...

, and Cleuluis Rondon going to the White Sox,

Jake Peavy Jacob Edward Peavy (born May 31, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who is currently an on-air analyst for MLB Network. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, ...

and Brayan Villarreal going to the Red Sox, and José Iglesias going to the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

. He finished the year split between the High-A

Winston-Salem Dash The Winston-Salem Dash are a Minor League Baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They are a High-A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997. The Dash began playing their home games ...

and the Single-A

Kannapolis Intimidators Kannapolis () is a city in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, northwest of Concord and northeast of Charlotte, and is a suburb in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The city of Kannapolis was incorporated in 1984. ...

. In 2014, Wendelken remained in Winston-Salem for the entire year, registering a 7–10 record and 5.25 ERA in 27 games. In 2015, he split the season between the Double-A

Birmingham Barons The Birmingham Barons are a Minor League Baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and plays at Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. The Baron ...

and the Triple-A

Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field ...

, pitching to a 6–2 record and 3.20 ERA between the two clubs. The White Sox added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.

Oakland Athletics

On December 9, 2015, Wendelken was traded to the Oakland Athletics, along with Zachary Erwin, for infielder

Brett Lawrie Brett Russell Lawrie (born January 18, 1990) is a Canadian former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. Amateur career While playing hi ...

. In 2016, he was assigned to the Triple-A

Nashville Sounds The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the ci ...

to begin the season. On May 8, 2016, he was recalled by the Athletics and made his MLB debut that night. He went back and forth between Nashville and Oakland for the rest of the season before being outrighted to Triple-A on October 6, 2016. Wendelken did not play in a game in 2017 after he underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...

. In 2018, he began the season at Triple-A. His contract was purchased by the Athletics on July 14, 2018. In 2019, Wendelken was one of four Athletics pitchers to throw 30 innings with a sub 4.00 ERA, joining

Liam Hendriks Liam Johnson Hendriks (born 10 February 1989) is an Australian professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, ...

Yusmeiro Petit Yusmeiro Alberto Petit (; born 22 November 1984) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals, Los Angele ...

, and Ryan Buchter. In 2020, Wendelken recorded 31 strikeouts in 25 innings and an ERA of 1.80 in 21 games. In 26 appearances for the Athletics is 2021, Wendelken posted a 4.32 ERA with 26 strikeouts. On August 10, 2021, Wendelken was designated for assignment by the Athletics.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On August 11, 2021, Wendelken was claimed off of waivers by the

. In 20 appearances down the stretch, he registered a 4.34 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 2 saves in innings of work. In 2022, Wendelken made 29 appearances for Arizona, but struggled to a 5.28 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched. On July 5, 2022, the Diamondbacks designated Wendelken for assignment. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A

Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, w ...

on July 11. After spending the rest of the season in Reno, Wendelken elected free agency on October 13.

Yokohama DeNA BayStars

On November 27, 2022, Wendelken signed with the

. He made 61 appearances for Yokohama in 2023, compiling a 2–2 record and 1.66 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 3 saves across innings pitched. On November 29, 2023, Wendelken re-signed with the BayStars on a one–year contract. He made 28 appearances for Yokohama in 2024, registering a 1–1 record and 1.71 ERA with 30 strikeouts across innings pitched. On December 2, 2024, the BayStars announced that Wendelken wouldn’t be returning in 2025, making him a free agent.

San Diego Padres

On January 14, 2025, Wendelken signed a minor league contract with the

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wendelken, J. B. 1993 births Living people Arizona Complex League Padres players Arizona Diamondbacks players Baseball players from Savannah, Georgia Birmingham Barons players Charlotte Knights players El Paso Chihuahuas players Glendale Desert Dogs players Greenville Drive players Gulf Coast Red Sox players Kannapolis Intimidators players Major League Baseball pitchers Middle Georgia Warriors baseball players Nashville Sounds players Oakland Athletics players Reno Aces players San Antonio Missions players United States national baseball team players Winston-Salem Dash players Yokohama DeNA BayStars players 21st-century American sportsmen