Josh Winckowski

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #9 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Winckowski was an unheralded 15th-round pick of the Blue Jays out of Estero (Fla.) High in 2016 and spent his first four pro seasons in the low minors throwing strikes with a low-90s fastball and slider. His velocity jumped into the mid 90s at 2020 instructional league and he showed improved action on his changeup, leading teams to target him in trades. Though Winckowski went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft, the Mets acquired him in the deal for Steven Matz prior to the 2021 season and the Red Sox acquired him two weeks later in the three-team trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to the Royals.
  
  Scouting Report: Winckowski attacks the strike zone with a well-rounded repertoire. His above-average four-seam fastball sits 94-96 mph at times and gets swings and misses in the strike zone. He sometimes works below that velocity but is still effective when he does. He also uses a two-seam fastball in the low 90s to create different movement profiles and keep batters guessing. Winckowski’s average slider and changeup both come in firm in the mid 80s and feature enough movement to spread the zone to both his arm and glove sides. He’ll reshape the slider into a cutter to vary looks. Winckowski throws all his pitches for strikes with above-average control and is extremely efficient, allowing him to work deep into starts despite the lack of an overpowering, putaway pitch.
  
  The Future: Winckowski was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason and is likely to make his big league debut in 2022. He may break in as a reliever but has the potential to be a solid No. 4 or 5 starter.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #24 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the 15th round out of high school by the Blue Jays, Winckowski spent three years in short-season ball and one more at Class A. He would have spent 2020 at Double-A had there been a minor league season. Winckowski was left unprotected in a deep Toronto system for the Rule 5 draft but went unselected.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Winckowski logged a career high 127.1 innings in 2019, peaking at high Class A Dunedin. He logged a 2.69 ERA, struck out 108 and walked 43. Winckowski is a solid strike-thrower who did not go to Toronto's alternate training site last year but went to instructional league, where he ran his fastball up to 96 mph toward the end of camp and was in the process of learning a splitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Winckowski will serve as rotation depth for the Mets, probably at Double-A at the outset of 2021.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Winckowski was an unheralded 15th-round pick of the Blue Jays out of Estero (Fla.) High in 2016 and spent his first four pro seasons in the low minors throwing strikes with a low-90s fastball and slider. His velocity jumped into the mid-90s at 2020 instructional and he showed improved action on his changeup, leading teams to target him in trades. Though Wincowski went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft, the Mets acquired him in the deal for Steven Matz prior to the 2021 season and the Red Sox acquired him two weeks later in the three-team that sent Andrew Benintendi to the Royals.
  
  Scouting Report: Winckowski attacks the strike zone with a well-rounded repertoire. His above-average four-seam fastball sits 94-96 mph at times and gets swings and misses in the strike zone. He sometimes works below that velocity but is still effective when he does. He also uses a two-seam fastball in the low-90s to create different movement profiles and keep batters guessing. Winckowski&#39s average slider and changeup both come in firm in the mid-80s and feature enough movement to spread the zone to both his arm and glove sides. He&#39ll reshape the slider into a cutter to vary looks. Winckowski throws all his pitches for strikes with above-average control and is extremely efficient, allowing him to work deep into starts despite the lack of an overpowering, putaway pitch.
  
  The Future: Winckowski is a lock to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason and is likely to make his big league debut in 2022. He may break in as a reliever but has the potential to be a solid No. 4 or 5 starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Winckowski was an unheralded 15th-round pick of the Blue Jays out of Estero (Fla.) High in 2016 and spent his first four pro seasons in the low minors throwing strikes with a low-90s fastball and slider. His velocity jumped into the mid 90s at 2020 instructional league and he showed improved action on his changeup, leading teams to target him in trades. Though Winckowski went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft, the Mets acquired him in the deal for Steven Matz prior to the 2021 season and the Red Sox acquired him two weeks later in the three-team trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to the Royals.
  
  Scouting Report: Winckowski attacks the strike zone with a well-rounded repertoire. His above-average four-seam fastball sits 94-96 mph at times and gets swings and misses in the strike zone. He sometimes works below that velocity but is still effective when he does. He also uses a two-seam fastball in the low 90s to create different movement profiles and keep batters guessing. Winckowski’s average slider and changeup both come in firm in the mid 80s and feature enough movement to spread the zone to both his arm and glove sides. He’ll reshape the slider into a cutter to vary looks. Winckowski throws all his pitches for strikes with above-average control and is extremely efficient, allowing him to work deep into starts despite the lack of an overpowering, putaway pitch.
  
  The Future: Winckowski was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason and is likely to make his big league debut in 2022. He may break in as a reliever but has the potential to be a solid No. 4 or 5 starter.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Winckowski, the most advanced of the four prospects acquired in the Andrew Benintendi trade, has shown a potential starter's mix, with a major league-quality fastball (usually 94-96 mph), a slider and a changeup that has the potential to emerge as a solid third pitch.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the 15th round out of high school by the Blue Jays, Winckowski spent three years in short-season ball and one more at Class A. He would have spent 2020 at Double-A had there been a minor league season. Winckowski was left unprotected in a deep Toronto system for the Rule 5 draft but went unselected.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Winckowski logged a career high 127.1 innings in 2019, peaking at high Class A Dunedin. He logged a 2.69 ERA, struck out 108 and walked 43. Winckowski is a solid strike-thrower who did not go to Toronto's alternate training site last year but went to instructional league, where he ran his fastball up to 96 mph toward the end of camp and was in the process of learning a splitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Winckowski will serve as rotation depth for the Mets, probably at Double-A at the outset of 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted in the 15th round out of high school by the Blue Jays, Winckowski spent three years in short-season ball and one more at Class A. He would have spent 2020 at Double-A had there been a minor league season. Winckowski was left unprotected in a deep Toronto system for the Rule 5 draft but went unselected.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Winckowski logged a career high 127.1 innings in 2019, peaking at high Class A Dunedin. He logged a 2.69 ERA, struck out 108 and walked 43. Winckowski is a solid strike-thrower who did not go to Toronto's alternate training site last year but went to instructional league, where he ran his fastball up to 96 mph toward the end of camp and was in the process of learning a splitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Winckowski will serve as rotation depth for the Mets, probably at Double-A at the outset of 2021.