Davis Wendzel
Position: IF
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 206 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/23/1997
College: Baylor University
How Acquired: Minor league free agent
Drafted: 1st Round, 41st Overall, 2019 (Rangers)
Bonus: $1,600,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2026
Options Left: 2
Overview
Texas drafted Wendzel in the supplemental first round in 2019. He had a record in college of making a lot of hard contact and hitting for average with solid power. As a pro, he made it to AAA very quickly and then stalled out there. In his minor league career, he’s played only 72 games below AAA and 388 in AAA. He’s hit for some power in the minors, but mostly has not hit for average. He adjusted his swing in 2024 to cut down on strikeouts, although it may have limited his power some. Wendzel has spent most of his time at short and third, more at short. He’s played just a little at second and first. According to FanGraphs, he’s above average at third but lacks the athleticism to play short regularly. He has a strong arm and below average speed. He’s missed time most seasons with injuries. The Pirates signed Wendzel to a minor league deal for 2026.
2019-21
Wendzel played in seven games the year he signed, missed the pandemic season and then got to AAA in 2021 despite missing about half that season with injuries. He played in 45 games, batting 239/348/390. He got into eight AAA games, putting up a .798 OPS.
2022-23
The Rangers kept Wendzel in AAA in 2022, except for some rehab games. He played in 85 games in AAA and hit 17 home runs, but overall his hitting wasn’t good. His slash line was 207/287/398 and he had a 26% strikeout rate. In 2023, Wendzel got in a full season in AAA and hit 30 home runs while batting 236/367/477. He had a 24% K rate and a 14% walk rate. His .838 OPS seems good, but he was in the Pacific Coast League and it was only 16 points above average. His wRC+ was 106. The Rangers did not add him to their 40-man roster and he was not selected in the Rule 5 draft.
2024-25
Due to injuries, the Rangers called Wendzel up in early April of 2024. In 49 plate appearances in the majors, he hit 128/163/234. Wendzel otherwise played for the Texas AAA affiliate until the trade deadline, when the Rangers sent him to the Reds for cash. He spent the rest of the season with the Reds’ AAA team. In AAA, Wendzel had an OPS of .876 while with Texas and .671 with Cincinnati. Some of that likely was due to the switch between the PCL and the less offense-heavy International League. On the season he hit 266/356/410 and got his K rate down to 16%. Cincinnati outrighted Wendzel to AAA at the beginning of September.
Except for another injury rehab, Wendzel spent all of 2025 in AAA with the Reds. He batted 251/346/433 with 13 home runs. His K rate was 18%. After the season, Wendzel became a free agent and signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2018: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 37th round, 1120th overall pick.
June 3, 2019: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1st round, 41st overall pick; signed on July 3.
April 8, 2024: Contract purchased by the Texas Rangers.
July 30, 2024: Traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cincinnati Reds for cash.
September 2, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the Cincinnati Reds.
November 6, 2025: Became a free agent.
December 15, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.