John Wenrick's fastball had good action on it this night in August 1986. The result for his rookie Kingsport squad, a four-hitter and a 1-0 loss, The Kingsport Times-News wrote.
"It's the game I've been waiting to pitch all season," Wenrick told The Times-News afterward.
Wenrick pitched that game in his first professional season. He went on to see four more. He topped out at high-A.
Wenrick's career began that year in 1986, taken by the Mets in the third round of the secondary phase of the June draft out of Long Beach City College.
Wenrick started with the Mets at rookie Kingsport. He got into 12 games, 11 starts. he went 2-6, with a 5.56 ERA.
Wenrick isn't recorded as playing in 1987, but he returned for 1988 at short-season Little Falls. He saw 23 relief outings, picked up two wins, two saves and an ERA of 3.30.
Wenrick moved to single-A Columbia for 1989. He started the year with an exhibition against the University of South Carolina, but had a rough start. He went three innings and gave up five earned. He also walked three.
"It's unusual for him because he doesn't walk people that much," Wenrick's manager Bill Stein told The Greenville News then. "That's not the John Wenrick you'll see during the year. He usually goes right after the hitters."
Wenrick then went 6-8 on the year, with a 4.09 ERA over 44 outings, three starts. He also saved four.
Wenrick moved to the Expos system for 1990. He played at high-A West Palm Beach. He went 4-1, with a 3.62 ERA over 21 relief outings. That season marked his last as a pro.
- Kingsport Times-News, Aug. 13, 1986: Cards sweep Mets, run streak to 19
- Greenville News, April 5, 1989: USC
Players/Coaches Featured:3,564
Made the Majors:1,235-34.7%
Never Made Majors:2,329-65.3%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:513
10+ Seasons in the Minors:305
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