# Joe Wieland

Joseph Andrew Wieland (born January 21, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and in the KBO League the Kia Tigers.

## Early life

Wieland was named Nevada State Player of the Year by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Reno Gazette-Journal while at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nevada. He committed to playing college baseball at San Diego State.

## Professional career
### Texas Rangers

Wieland was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the Rangers and did not play for San Diego State. Wieland spent 2009 with the Class A Hickory Crawdads where he posted a 5.31 ERA in 19 games. He opened 2010 with the Crawdads, but an improved 3.34 ERA in 15 games earned him a promotion to the California League High-A Bakersfield Blaze in July. In 2011, Wieland started the year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Rangers' new High-A affiliate, and then graduated to Double-A in late June. On July 29, 2011, while pitching for the Frisco RoughRiders, Wieland threw a no-hitter against the San Antonio Missions, the Padres Double-A affiliate. Wieland had a 1.23 ERA in 7 starts for the RoughRiders.

### San Diego Padres

On July 31, 2011, Wieland and Robbie Erlin were traded to the San Diego Padres for Mike Adams. He finished the year with the Double-A Missions, posting a 2.77 ERA in 5 starts. He had 8.7 strike-outs per 9 innings across all three clubs in 2011.
Wieland started 2012 with the Triple-A Tucson Padres, but only made 2 starts before he was called up to the Major League team.
Wieland was called up to join the Padres' rotation when both Tim Stauffer and Dustin Moseley went on the disabled list early in the season. He made his Major League debut on April 14, 2012, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing six runs in five innings to take the loss. Wieland made five starts for the Padres, losing four of them, and posted a 4.55 ERA before he went to the disabled list in May with shoulder tightness. He underwent a season-ending Tommy John surgery on July 27, 2012.
Wieland began the 2013 season on the 60-day disabled list as he was still recovering from the surgery. He began a throwing program at around mid-season but he suffered a number of setbacks due to soreness and a stress reaction and missed the entire season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his elbow at the start of the 2014 season and did not make his return to the Padres until September 6, 2014. In four appearances for the Padres in 2014, he allowed nine runs in 11 innings. He finally picked up his first MLB win on September 24 against the Colorado Rockies.

### Los Angeles Dodgers

On December 18, 2014, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers (along with Yasmani Grandal and Zach Eflin) in exchange for Matt Kemp, Tim Federowicz and cash. He was assigned to the Triple–A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Wieland was called up to the Dodgers on May 6, 2015, to start a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed six runs in 42⁄3 innings and was promptly optioned back to Triple–A following the game. He made a second start on September 9, allowing two runs in four innings. In 21 starts (and one relief appearance) for Oklahoma City, he was 10–5 with a 4.59 ERA. The Dodgers re-signed him to a one-year, $590,000 contract after the season to avoid salary arbitration.

### Seattle Mariners

On January 12, 2016, Wieland was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor league infielder Erick Mejia. The Mariners traded Wieland to the Atlanta Braves on September 14, and he was assigned to Triple A Gwinnett.

### Yokohama DeNA BayStars

On 7 November 2016, it was announced that Wieland had signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the NPB for the 2017 season.

### Kia Tigers

On December 5, 2018, Wieland signed with the Kia Tigers of the KBO League. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.

### Sugar Land Lightning Sloths

In July 2020, Wieland signed on to play for the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift four-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season. He was subsequently named to the league's all-star team.

### Chicago Cubs

On September 10, 2020, Wieland signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and was added to their 60-man player pool.

### Tampa Bay Rays

On May 11, 2022, Wieland signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. Wieland appeared in eight games split between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Rays and the Triple-A Durham Bulls, recording a cumulative 1-1 record and 1.93 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 18+2⁄3 innings pitched. He was released by the Rays on August 15.

### Oakland Athletics

On January 19, 2023, Wieland signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics organization. In 23 games for the Triple–A Las Vegas Aviators, registering a 4–4 record and 8.16 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched. On July 4, Wieland was released by Oakland.

### Chicago Dogs

On August 20, 2023, Wieland signed with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 3 starts for Chicago, Wieland recorded a 1.76 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 15+1⁄3 innings pitched.

### Olmecas de Tabasco

On February 26, 2024, Wieland signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. In 9 games (6 starts) for Tabasco, he logged a 4–1 record and 2.95 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 39+2⁄3 innings pitched.

### Uni-President Lions

On March 8, 2025, Wieland signed with the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

## Scouting report

Wieland throws from a three quarters angle with a repeatable delivery. He throws four pitches: a two seam fastball, a four seam fastball, a curveball and a rare changeup.