BOSTON — Josh Winckowski’s 2024 season has been marked by disappointment from the start.

In spring training, he was eliminated from the competition for the starting rotation. Then, despite pitching fairly well in a hybrid role (1-1, 3.33 ERA in a 12 regular-season appearances) he was optioned to Worcester in early May.

He enjoyed some success there, posting a 3-2 mark and a 2.87 ERA in seven outings, six of them starts.

The Red Sox called up Winckowski on Monday, a day after a bullpen game left them in need of fresh arms.

“They’ve got a good thing going up here,” said Winckowski after his return to the big league clubhouse. “It feels good (to be back).”

Winckowski said his time in Worcester, “went really well. Obviously, the first few days, you’re a little grumpy. But I feel like I tackled it pretty well and worked on a lot down there. I worked on the changeup, the cutter and the slider and just kind of throwing more strikes. I feel like I made a lot of progress down there.”

Winckowski isn’t ready to declare that he’s figured everything out, but he’s pleased with the progress that he made on his pitch mix while pitching at Triple A.

“I don’t think in baseball you can ever say that you’ve fully achieved something,” said Winckowski. “Obviously, the game’s always challenging. But the slider I was throwing at the start of the year was almost identical to the cutter that I throw; it really didn’t offer much. Now, I’m throwing one of them a little slower and a little bit bigger right now and that kind of helps out the pitch mix.”

The Red Sox made a flurry of roster moves before the start of a three-game series with Toronto. Relievers Cam Booser and Brad Keller were optioned to Worcester, and catcher Connor Wong was placed on paternity leave. Right-handed pitcher Isaiah Campbell was also called up to Boston.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Red Sox keep rolling, win another series with 7-4 victory over Reds

Next »

Tom Caron: Young, exciting Red Sox making season more interesting