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The Detroit Tigers signed right-handed reliever Trey Wingenter, who has pitched three innings between the majors and minors since 2019, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to MLB spring training.
Wingenter, 28, underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2020.
He pitched three innings in the Arizona Complex League in the 2021 season as part of his rehabilitation from elbow surgery, then he missed the entire 2022 season due to a back injury.
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The 6-foot-7 pitcher has taken the mound for 73 relief appearances across two seasons in his MLB career. He registered a 5.14 ERA with 39 walks and 99 strikeouts in 70 innings for the San Diego Padres in 2018-19, averaging 5.0 walks and 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Wingenter’s recovery continued with a six-game showcase with Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. He logged a 1.69 ERA with six walks and six strikeouts in 5⅓ innings.
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In the 2019 season, Wingenter pitched 51 innings and ranked in the 97th percentile for his 36.3% swing-and-miss rate, 91st percentile for his 33.0% strikeout rate and 7th percentile for his 12.8% walk rate. He also ranked in the 96th percentile for his extension, a product of his height, but in the 25th percentile for the average spin rate on his fastball.
Wingenter has posted a 33.1% strikeout rate and a 13.0% walk rate in his two-year MLB career. Conceding too many walks and suffering injuries has hindered him throughout his professional career.
His arsenal is composed of two pitches: four-seam fastball and slider. He is confident throwing those offerings to both right-handed and left-handed hitters but fits better against lefties from an all-around performance standpoint.
Before elbow surgery, Wingenter’s fastball averaged 95.8 mph.
The Padres non-tendered Wingenter in November 2021, and the Cincinnati Reds signed him to a minor-league contract ahead of the 2022 campaign. He pitched two innings for the Reds in spring training but was shut down in late March because of elbow soreness.
A bulging disc in his back forced Wingenter to miss the entire 2022 season.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign RP Trey Wingenter to minor-league contract
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