After being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in December of 2017 for a player to be named later, Wendle became just another name on the back of a jersey, fighting and scrapping his way through spring training on the practice fields behind Charlotte Sports Park.
What would take place over the next 7 months would shock the Tampa Bay Rays, their fans, and the rest of baseball. Joey Wendle became the catalyst for a Rays team that would go on to win 90 games in 2018. Scrapping and clawing his way into the everyday lineup just as he scrapped and clawed his way on to the opening day roster.