Pirates Take a Flier on Former Rangers Infielder Davis Wendzel with Minor League Deal
The Pittsburgh Pirates are taking a low-risk, potentially high-reward swing this offseason, signing former Rangers infielder Davis Wendzel to a minor league deal with an invite to big league spring training. If Wendzel manages to break camp with the team and make the 26-man roster, he’ll earn $850,000-a solid incentive for a player still trying to find his footing at the Major League level.
Wendzel, a former first-round pick (41st overall) by Texas in the 2018 draft out of Baylor, has had a winding road since his debut. He saw limited action with the Rangers in 2024-just 27 games-and struggled to produce at the plate, slashing .128/.163/.234 with one home run and two RBIs in 49 plate appearances. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but they also don’t tell the full story of a player who’s shown more promise in the minors.
After being designated for assignment by Texas in late July, Wendzel was traded to the Reds for cash. He didn’t stick there either, eventually becoming a free agent after being outrighted off the roster. Now, he gets a fresh start with a Pirates team that’s still sorting out its infield picture heading into 2025.
And here’s where things get interesting: Wendzel may actually have a legitimate shot to carve out a role in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are thin on proven infield options beyond Spencer Horwitz, who’s expected to handle first base.
That leaves second, shortstop, and third base up for grabs-and Wendzel’s versatility could give him an edge. Over his pro career, he’s logged time at every infield position and even seen action in left field.
That kind of flexibility is exactly what teams covet when filling out a roster.
In the minors, Wendzel has been a different hitter than what we saw in his brief MLB stint. Over the past three seasons, he’s posted a .248/.355/.444 slash line across 1,240 plate appearances-a solid blend of contact, patience, and pop. That on-base ability and defensive versatility could put him in the mix for a bench role, if not more, depending on how things shake out in spring training.
He’ll be competing with a handful of other young infielders for a spot, including Konnor Griffin, Nick Yorke, Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzalez, Enmanuel Valdéz, and Tsung-Che Cheng. It’s a crowded group, but not one filled with established names, which means opportunity is very much on the table.
And with reports suggesting the Pirates could still add $30-40 million in payroll this offseason, it’s possible they bring in a veteran infielder to stabilize the group. But until that happens, the door is wide open for someone like Wendzel to make a strong impression.
If he does crack the Opening Day roster, he won’t have to wait long for a reunion with his old club-the Pirates visit the Rangers for a three-game series from April 21-23. That would be a full-circle moment for a player still trying to prove he belongs on a Major League diamond.
For now, it’s a wait-and-see situation. But Wendzel’s path to Pittsburgh could be more than just a depth move-it might be the second chance he’s been looking for.