Fred Wenz

{{Short description|American baseball player (1941–2020)}}

{{More footnotes|date=October 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Fred Wenz

|position=Pitcher

|image=

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date= {{Birth date|1941|8|26}}

|birth_place=Bound Brook, New Jersey, U.S.

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|10|6|1941|8|26}}

|death_place = Branchburg, New Jersey, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=June 4

|debutyear=1968

|debutteam=Boston Red Sox

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 29

|finalyear=1970

|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=3–0

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=4.68

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=38

|teams=

• Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|1968}}–{{mlby|1969}})
• Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1970}})

}}

Frederick Charles "Fireball" Wenz (August 26, 1941 – October 6, 2020) was a middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1968 through 1970 for the Boston Red Sox (1968–69) and Philadelphia Phillies (1970). Listed at {{height|ft=6|in=3}}, {{convert|214|lb|abbr=on}}, he batted and threw right-handed.

Wenz was signed as an amateur free agent by the San Francisco Giants out of Somerville High School in 1959.

He earned his nickname as a minor leaguer when he struck out more than one batter per inning during his time in the Red Sox' farm system.

In 31 relief appearances, Wenz posted a 3–0 record with a 4.68 ERA and one save, giving up 22 runs (one unearned) on 36 hits and 25 walks while striking out 38 in 42{{fraction|1|3}} innings of work.

Wenz died on October 6, 2020, in Branchburg, New Jersey.{{cite web |title=Frederick "Fireball" Wenz Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information |url=https://www.branchburgfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Frederick-Fireball-Wenz?obId=18550661#/celebrationWall |website=www.branchburgfuneralhome.com |accessdate=9 October 2020}}