FORT MYERS, Fla. – Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski’s routine day of spring training took an unexpected turn when he was summoned for jury duty last Tuesday. Sitting amongst 300 individuals, Winckowski felt his luck wane as 40 people were selected for the case, including himself. As a graduate of Estero High School and a resident of Lee County, Winckowski understood the importance of fulfilling his civic duty, but it clashed with his plans to start as pitcher against the Phillies in Clearwater. Despite the inconvenience, Winckowski’s teammates found humor in his situation upon his return to the clubhouse.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora recognizes Winckowski’s skills and believes he is still in contention for a spot in the starting pitching rotation. While Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta have secured two spots, the third position is expected to be filled by FGCU graduate Kutter Crawford. With Winckowski, Garrett Whitlock, Cooper Criswell, and Tanner Houck vying for the final two spots, Cora acknowledges that difficult decisions lie ahead. The composition of the 40-man roster and the capabilities of the players at the big league level will factor into these choices.
With just over a week remaining in spring training, the ultimate goal for Winckowski and his fellow pitchers is to secure a place in the starting rotation. Cora anticipates that the decisions regarding the rotation will be made before the team leaves Southwest Florida. Winckowski recognizes the need to shift his mindset and focus on being season-ready and producing results on the mound.
Before departing Fort Myers on March 24, the Red Sox have ten more spring season games on their schedule. Following these games, the team will head to Texas to face the Rangers in two exhibition matches before the highly-anticipated Opening Day showdown against the Mariners in Seattle on March 28.
As the Red Sox continue their preparations for the upcoming season, the selection process for the starting rotation intensifies. For Winckowski and his competitors, this time serves as an opportunity to prove their worth and secure a spot on the roster. The final decisions will be made in the coming days as the Red Sox aim to assemble the best possible team for a successful season.