Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz will miss the entire 2026 Major League Baseball season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The injury occurred on Sunday as Wentz attempted to cover first base, and subsequent evaluation confirmed the severity of the knee damage.
The play developed on a routine ball in play that required Wentz to move toward first base to receive a throw. During the attempt to cover the bag, he suffered the non-contact knee injury that led to the ACL tear diagnosis. The club announced that the left-hander will be sidelined for the season, with his return to game action not expected until 2027.
An ACL tear typically requires reconstructive surgery followed by an extended rehabilitation process, often lasting nine to twelve months or more for pitchers. For a player whose delivery and balance depend heavily on lower-body stability and drive, the injury represents a significant setback. The right knee is crucial for push-off, landing, and maintaining consistent mechanics throughout the pitching motion, and Wentz will now face a lengthy recovery period to regain strength, mobility, and confidence on the mound.
The Braves will now proceed through the 2026 campaign without Wentz as an option in their pitching plans. His absence opens a spot in the organization’s depth chart that may need to be filled internally from other arms already in the system or through outside additions. The club will monitor his recovery as he progresses through surgery, rehabilitation milestones, and eventual throwing programs, but no specific timetable beyond missing the 2026 season has been detailed.
For Wentz, the focus will shift from competing for innings to rebuilding his physical foundation. ACL rehabilitation for pitchers typically includes phases of range-of-motion work, strength training, balance exercises, and gradual return to sport-specific activities. Only after clearing those stages will he be able to resume a structured throwing progression. Until then, the Braves and Wentz will view the 2026 season as a recovery year, with long-term health and durability the primary goals.
The loss of Wentz for the season alters Atlanta’s available options from the left side and removes a potential contributor from its pitching staff. As the Braves move forward, the club will adjust its plans while Wentz undertakes the long process of returning from a significant knee injury.
