| Josh Wolf | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (2000-09-01)September 1, 2000 (age 25) Bellaire, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Joshua David Wolf (born September 1, 2000) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has also pitched for theIsraeli national baseball team.
Wolf was born inBellaire, Texas, and is Jewish.[1] He had hisBar Mitzvah at theWestern Wall inJerusalem, and was a member ofCongregation Beth Israel in Houston.[2][3][4] His mother is from Israel and his father is fromCincinnati.[2]
Wolf attendedSt. Thomas High School inHouston,Texas. Wolf played for the school's baseball team and was twice named All-State.[5] As a junior he was 4-1 with a 1.06earned run average (ERA), and 53strikeouts in 39innings.[6] In his senior year, he struck out 126 batters in 69 innings, had a 1.52 ERA, and was named Outstanding Male High School Athlete of the Year by the Jewish Sports Heritage Association.[5] He committed to attendTexas A&M University.[7][8]
TheNew York Mets selected Wolf in the second round, with the 53rd overall selection, of the2019 MLB draft.[9][7][10] He was ranked the 36th-best prospect by MLB.com, and the 55th-best prospect byBaseball America.[9] At the time of the draft, he could throw a 97 miles per hour (156 km/h)fastball, and had an above averagecurveball.[11] He signed with the Mets for a $2.15 millionsigning bonus, forgoing his commitment to Texas A&M.[12][13] He made his professional debut in 2019 with theRookie-levelGulf Coast League Mets, going 0–1 with a 3.38 earned run average over eight innings, in which he struck out 12 batters and walked one batter.[14]
Wolf did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[15]
On January 7, 2021, the Mets traded Wolf,Amed Rosario,Andrés Giménez, andIsaiah Greene to theCleveland Indians forFrancisco Lindor andCarlos Carrasco. At the time, Wolf was the number 9 prospect in the Mets system.[16] Indians president of baseball operationsChris Antonetti said: “He's a young, hard-throwing right-handed pitcher with a good mix of pitches. He's got an above-average fastball, up to 96 [mph]. He's got a really good slider. His changeup is his third pitch, and that's developing. He has the ingredients to develop into a successful starting Major League pitcher.”[16]
For the 2021 season, Wolf was assigned to theLynchburg Hillcats of theLow-A East.[17] Over 18 games (17 starts), Wolf went 1–3 with a 5.35 ERA, striking out 67 batters over65+2⁄3 innings.[18] He split 2022 between the rookie–levelArizona Complex League Guardians and Lynchburg, and was 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA, striking out 25 batters in 25.2 innings.[14]
Wolf pitched for theIsraeli national baseball team in the2023 World Baseball Classic.[19] He split the 2023 campaign between the ACL Guardians andHigh-ALake County Captains, struggling to a combined 6.11 ERA with 47 strikeouts across45+2⁄3 innings pitched.[20]
Wolf was released by the Guardians organization on May 19, 2024 after posting a 5.11earned run average over12+1⁄3 innings in 10 relief appearances for High–A Lake County.
On May 23, 2024, Wolf signed a minor league contract with theSan Francisco Giants.[21] He made 24 appearances over the remainder of the season for the rookie-levelArizona Complex League Giants, Single-ASan Jose Giants, and High-AEugene Emeralds.
Wolf returned to Eugene in 2025, posting a 5-3 record and 4.74 ERA with 67 strikeouts and onesave across 29 games (9 starts). He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.[22]