Winckowski did not break with the Red Sox last season, but was called up in early April. He made six appearances for the club before being sent down again. The right-hander came to the IL in May with an elbow issue that eventually turned into a flexor strain. The injury ended his season. Winckowski was designated for assignment in mid-November. Shortly thereafter, he opted for minor league free agency.
The additional news that Winckowski underwent internal brace surgery this month sheds more light on his potential timeline. This procedure typically allows pitchers to return sooner than if they had Tommy John surgery. Winckowski will rebuild as a starter, Adams added. With several months of recovery still ahead of him, it makes sense that the Blue Jays signed him to a two-year contract.
It’s a return home for Winckowski, who was drafted out of high school by Toronto in 2016. He produced promising results at the lower levels of the minors, reaching High-A in 2019. Winckowski was then involved in a pair of notable trades ahead of the 2021 season. Toronto sent him to the Mets as part of a package for Steven Matz. Two weeks later, New York traded him to the Red Sox in a three-team deal Andreas Benintendi go to the royal family.
Winckowski made his debut with Boston in 2022. He played 15 games (14 starts) for the big league club and pitched to an ERA of 5.89. Winckowski struggled to miss bats (13.9% strikeout rate) but hit ground balls at a greater than 52% clip. The Red Sox moved Winckowski to a bullpen role in 2023, and the change paid immediate dividends. The righty’s fastball velocity increased by more than 2 mph, and his strikeout rate improved to 22.3%. Winckowski continued to get ground balls well above average. The combination of an improved arsenal and a persistent ability to keep the ball on the floor helped Winckowski post an excellent 2.88 ERA in 60 appearances. He finished 19 as a key member of Boston’s bullpen.
The 2024 campaign was a step back for Winckowski, both in terms of material and production. His fastball and sinker rates dropped a bit, and he returned to disappointing strikeout numbers. Winckowski was demoted to Triple-A twice. The injuries limited him to just 11 2/3 innings with the Red Sox this past season. His health, along with his impending arbitration and being out of minor league options, likely contributed to him being cut from Boston’s roster. Winckowski now heads to Toronto in hopes of recovering in time to help the Major League team.
Photo courtesy of Eric Canha, Imagn Images
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