Overview
- As a major league Rule 5 pick, the 25-year-old must stay on the Yankees' 26-man roster all season or be placed on waivers and, if he clears, offered back to the Cardinals for $50,000.
- Assistant GM Michael Fishman said New York tracked Winquest since college and targeted his big velocity and traits their pitching group believes it can refine.
- Winquest features a mid-90s fastball, an upper-70s curveball that generated a 46% whiff rate, and a low-80s slider, posting a 3.99 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 106 innings across High-A and Double-A in 2025.
- Team officials project his best path as a reliever this spring, and Winquest said Matt Blake is eager to tweak grips and potentially add a pitch.
- Limited pro innings and recent injuries, including lat strains and a slipped disc, add uncertainty, while he currently stands as the Yankees’ only external offseason addition with bullpen spots up for competition.