Josh Winckowski

Grew up in Fort Myers, Fla., home of the Red Sox’ Spring Training site...Attended Red Sox and Twins Spring Training games as a teenager...One of his favorite hobbies is playing video games...Graduated in 2016 from Estero (Fla.) High School...Transferred from Cypress Lake High School as a junior.

2024

Completed his third MLB season...Made 40+ appearances for the second consecutive year. Split the season between BOS (40 G/6 GS) and Triple-A Worcester (7 G/6 GS). In his six MLB starts, went 1-0 with a 2.42 ERA (6 ER/22.1 IP) and 1.03 WHIP...As a reliever, posted a 4.86 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and .283 opponent AVG in 53.2 IP. Threw 2.0+ innings in 11 of his 34 relief appearances (3.0+ IP in 5 of them). Ranked in MLB’s 90th percentile in ground ball rate (52.4%) and 80th in barrel rate (6.1%). Opponents hit .167 vs. his slider (6-for-36, 2 2B, 9 SO). Also went 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA (10 ER/31.1 IP) and 29 SO in his seven appearances with Worcester...Allowed two or fewer ER in six of those games (1 or 0 ER in 4 of them). In his 12 starts combined between Worcester and BOS, went 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA (15 ER/51.1 IP).

2023

Posted career bests in games (60), innings (84.1), strikeouts (82) and ERA (2.88)...Led the Red Sox in appearances (60) and was second in holds (19) behind Chris Martin (23)...Ranked third in MLB in relief innings (83.1), just 1.0 IP shy of the lead...Led MLB in relief innings through the end of July...Was the first Red Sox pitcher to toss 80.0+ innings in relief and finish among the top 10 in the category since Alfredo Aceves in 2012 (4th, 84.0)...Among MLB pitchers with at least 80.0 IP, ranked 9th in ERA (2.88)...38 of his 60 outings were scoreless, including 7 of 2.0+ innings...Pitched 2.0+ innings 18 times, including a season-high 3.0 innings four times...Ranked in MLB’s 75th percentile or better in fastball velocity (86th), ground ball rate (85th) and barrel percentage (75th)...Against his cutter, opponents had a .206 expected AVG and .269 expected SLG...33 of his 82 SO came via his cutter...Held lefty batters to a .304 SLG (7 XBH)...Among the 134 MLB pitchers with at least 150 LHH faced, was tied with CWS’ Jesse Scholtens for fewest HR allowed (one).

2022

Began the season with Triple-A Worcester, posting a 3.13 ERA (11 ER/31.2 IP) in seven starts from 4/8-5/22. Appointed Boston’s 27th man for the doubleheader on 5/28 vs. BAL...Made his MLB debut in Game 2, starting and allowing four runs in 3.0 IP (6 H, 3 BB, 4 SO). Recalled again on 6/15 and tossed 5.0 scoreless innings that night vs. OAK (4 H, BB, 3 SO). Went 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA for BOS in three June starts (4 ER/17.0 IP). From 6/15-7/2, became the first Sox rookie in franchise history to allow two runs or fewer and issue 1 or 0 BB over 5.0+ IP in 4 consecutive outings...It was just the 24th occurrence by any pitcher in club history. On the COVID-19 Related IL from 7/14-25. Earned the win on 7/31 vs. MIL after allowing two runs over 5.0 IP (7 H, HBP, BB, SO), the first win by a Red Sox starter since Rich Hill on 6/26 vs. CLE...Snapped the Sox’ 29-game streak in which their starting pitcher did not earn the win from 6/27-7/30. Limited the Royals to one run over 5.0 innings to earn the win on 8/5 at KC (5 H, 2 BB, 4 SO). Held the Orioles scoreless through 5.0 IP on 8/11 at Fenway Park, before allowing three runs in the sixth inning (5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SO). Made his 1st MLB relief appearance on 10/1 at TOR (3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, BB, 3 SO.

2021

Attended ML Spring Training as a non-roster invitee...Pitched in five Grapefruit League games (1 start)...Spent most of the season with Double-A Portland (21 G, 20 GS) and made two starts for Triple-A Worcester...Was his 1st Double-A and Triple-A experience...Ranked among Red Sox minor leaguers in innings (2nd, 112.0), wins (T-2nd, 9), and starts (T-4th, 22)...Threw at least 5.0 innings in 18 of his 22 starts, at least 6.0 IP in 10, and a season-high-tying 7.0 IP twice...Issued 1 or 0 walks over 5.0+ IP in 11 starts...Named Double-A East Pitcher of the Week for 5/24-30...Allowed only one hit over 7.0 scoreless IP on 5/29 vs. Hartford (0 BB, 9 SO)...In six appearances (5 starts) from 8/28 through the end of the season, posted a 2.70 ERA (9 ER/30.0 IP)...Finished the season with 2 starts for Worcester...Allowed two runs over 6.0 IP on 9/24 vs. Rochester and one run over 6.0 IP on 10/1 at Lehigh Valley...Following the season, made six relief appearances for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League.

2020

Did not play in 2020...Enters his 1st season in the Red Sox organization after being acquired by the club in a 3-team trade with the Royals and Mets on 2/10/21...Was traded twice in a span of 15 days, from TOR to NYM on 1/27/21 and from NYM to BOS on 2/10/21...At the time he was traded to BOS, was ranked by Baseball America as the Mets’ No. 20 prospect.

2018-19

After posting a 5.19 ERA (39 ER/67.2 IP) in his first two seasons (2016-17), recorded a 2.72 ERA (59 ER/195.1 IP) from 2018-19...Allowed only 10 HR in 195.1 IP in 2018 and 2019 combined (0.46 HR/9.0 IP)…In 24 games (23 starts) between Single-A Lansing and High-A Dunedin in 2019, went 10-8 with a 2.69 ERA (38 ER/127.1 IP)…Named a 2018 post-season All-Star (Northwest League) and 2019 mid-season All-Star (Midwest League)…As the starting pitcher for the East team in the 2019 Midwest League All-Star Game, retired all 3 batters faced on only 10 pitches...Named 2018 Northwest League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 2.78 ERA in 13 starts with Short-A Vancouver...Was a two-time NWL Pitcher of the Week that season (7/30-8/5 and 8/13-19).