Josh Winckowski makes second rehab start with Single-A Dunedin
Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Aug 31, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 30, 2026, 21:18 EDT
An arm in the Toronto Blue Jays organization is making a push to return from injury this season.
On Sunday, right-hander Josh Winckowski made his second rehab outing with Single-A Dunedin as he attempts to work his way back from an internal brace procedure that cost him much of the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
In his second start with Dunedin, during their 4-3 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals, Winckowski turned in a pitching line of 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, and threw 33 pitches (21 strikes). The 28-year-old worked the same amount of innings and threw three more pitches than in his first rehab outing.
After allowing a leadoff home run to Travis Honeyman during his start on August 25, Winckowski made quick work of him this time around by getting the left fielder to groundout to short on an 0-2, 82.3 MPH slider.
For the second out of the inning, Winckowski got Trevor Condon, the 13th overall selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2026 MLB draft to weakly ground out to second base on a 92 MPH cutter.
After a five-pitch walk to Ryan Mitchell, which was followed by his 39th steal of the season, Winckowski escaped the threat by getting Alexander Frias to fly out to left fielder Rhylan Thomas on an 86.5 MPH slider.
To open the top of the second inning, Winckowski recorded his first punchout of the afternoon by getting Dee Kennedy looking on a 92.5 MPH cutter.
After allowing a walk to Sebastian Dos Santos and a single to Miguel Hernández, Winckowski retired the last batter he would face by getting Gabe Camacho to strike out looking on a changeup.
A former starter turned reliever with the Boston Red Sox, Winckowski pitched in 121 games (21 starts) over parts of four seasons with the Red Sox and went 13-14 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.
Before going down last season with a right elbow flexor strain that ultimately led to the procedure, Winckowski had pitched in six games and was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. The right-hander struck out nine batters across 11.2 innings pitched and was hit at a .250 clip.
While a return to the Blue Jays roster this season is far from a guarantee due to the club’s hunt for a postseason berth, Winckowski was signed to a two-year minor league deal this winter and figures to be in competition for a roster spot heading into 2027.
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