Sports
West Chester's Joey Wendle Makes Opening Day Roster For Rays
West Chester grad and baseball star Joey Wendle is starting out the season in the major leagues this year with the Tampa Bay Rays.
WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester grad and baseball star Joey Wendle is starting out the season in the major leagues this year with the Tampa Bay Rays, and he looks to be in line for at least semi-regular at bats as a utility infielder and pinch hitter.
Wendle, 27, a graduate of Avon Grove High School and West Chester University, spent most of the 2017 season in the minor leagues before being called up after rosters expanded to 40 men on Sept. 1.
After a stellar career for the Golden Rams, Wendle was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 6th Round of the 2012 draft before making his way into the Oakland Athletics organization.
Find out what's happening in West Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A second baseman, he made his major league debut in 2016. When the A's visited the Phillies last summer, Wendle made his homecoming count, smacking a grand slam home run.
On Sunday, Wendle started and got his first hits of the 2018 season, going 2 for 4 against the Red Sox, including a double.
Find out what's happening in West Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He's batting .263 across 118 major league at bats.
Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
