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Joseph Patrick Wendle (born April 26, 1990) is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, and New York Mets. Wendle made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Athletics. He is one of the few MLB players to not use .
Wendle was a four-year starter for the West Chester Golden Rams baseball team, where he compiled a .366 career batting average with 23 and 185 runs batted in (RBIs). During his senior season, Wendle hit .399 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs as the Golden Rams went on to win the 2012 NCAA Division II baseball tournament.
Wendle played the 2013 season with the Carolina Mudcats of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. He hit .295/.372/.513 with 16 home runs and 64 RBI over 107 games. He won the Lou Boudreau Award as the Indians minor league player of the year. He started the 2014 season with the Akron RubberDucks of the Class AA Eastern League.
Wendle began the 2016 season with Nashville. The Athletics promoted Wendle to the major leagues on August 31, 2016. He made his major league debut that day. Over the next season and a half, Wendle would appear in 36 games for the Athletics, collecting 29 hits in 109 at bats. Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, Wendle was designated for assignment on December 7, 2017.
Wendle ended the season leading all rookies in wins above replacement (4.3), batting average (.300), on-base percentage (.350), and triples (6), as well as placing second in hits (146), doubles (33), and runs (62). Wendle was the first Rays player since 2011 to hit .300, and the first rookie to ever reach that mark. He tied for the major league lead in sacrifice flies (10). At the conclusion of the season, Wendle was unanimously chosen as the Rays Outstanding Rookie award for the 2018 season and finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year award.
Wendle began the 2019 season starting at second base with the intention of playing nearly every day. However, on March 31, Wendle injured his hamstring tagging out Jake Marisnick attempting to steal second base and was placed on the 10-day injured list. He was activated 3 weeks later. He was placed back on the disabled list on April 24 due to a fracture in his right wrist by a hit by pitch. Overall, Wendle ended the season playing in just 75 games. Wendle appeared in 5 postseason games, recording 2 hits in 10 at bats as the Rays were eliminated In the ALDS in five games by the Houston Astros.
In 2020, Wendle started 50 games for the Rays despite being considered a back-up player. His defensive versatility allowed him to give fellow teammates Willy Adames and Brandon Lowe games off, while platooning at Third baseman with Yandy Diaz. For the season, Wendle hit .286 with 4 home runs and 17 RBIs as the Rays clinched their first division title in ten years. In the ALDS against the Yankees, Wendle hit .353 as the Rays beat the Yankees in 5 games. Against the Houston Astros in the ALCS, Wendle garnered attention for his stellar defense at Third baseman. Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker went as far to compare his play to Brooks Robinson. The Rays would go on to beat the Astros in 7 games.
Wendle was named to the 2021 All-Star Game as a reserve on July 9, 2021. He singled in his only plate appearance.
On January 13, 2023, Wendle agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with the Marlins, avoiding salary arbitration. He became a free agent following the season.
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