The Arizona Diamondbacks have released two-time Gold Glove winner Kolten Wong. The veteran infielder was playing with the Triple-A affiliate in Reno after signing a minor league contract. Wong, 33, came into the 2024 season hoping to diminish his brutal 2023 campaign that saw him hit .183/.256/.263 in 250 plate appearances between the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. Wong did sign a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles, spending spring training with the club, but opted after he didn’t make the Opening Day roster.
The Diamondbacks have released IF Kolten Wong who has been with the Reno Aces. #Dbacks
— Aaron Hughes (@AaronrHughes) May 28, 2024
Kolten Wong Released by the Diamondbacks
Wong went on to sign with the D-backs, signing a second minor league deal on April 10. Through 31 games, the veteran tuned a .271/.339/.383 batting line in Triple-A’s Pacific Coast League. Wong showed signs of power with two home runs and swiped a pair of bases as he collected six doubles. He did show small improvements in his strikeout and walk rates, which sat at 21.2 percent and 7.2 percent in the big leagues last year. However, they were at 18.2 percent and 8.3 percent in Reno. Wong is a season removed from a respectable .251/.339/.430 performance with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022.
While you are working, Kolten Wong is ripping RBI doubles down the line for the lead ? pic.twitter.com/RiXCxmEWxT
— Reno Aces (@Aces) April 23, 2024
Wong is An Above-Average Second Baseman
From 2017-22, Wong was an above-average second baseman between Milwaukee and the St. Louis Cardinals. He hit a combined .269/.349/.414 with 54 home runs and 72 steals. From 2014-22, he hit .263/.336/.401, similar to his slash line from 2017-22. However, Arizona didn’t need any help at second base as Ketel Marte is hitting .275/.322/.493 this season. Other second base options on the 40-man roster are well ahead of Wong on the depth chart. Perhaps a team around the league could use his services.
Possible Landing Spots
The Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels could use a veteran like Wong. He makes sense as both a depth option and even an immediate big-league replacement at that position. Doing so will allow a team to send a struggling young player back to Triple-A to further develop their game. After his release by the Orioles, Wong doesn’t seem interested in signing another minor league contract.
“I’ve got 10 years in this already,” Wong said to Jake Rill of MLB.com. “I don’t plan on going down to the minor leagues after this. Whatever happens, happens.”
Main Photo: © Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
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