Josh Winckowski was dominant in his third rehab outing💪 3 IP | 0 R | 1 H | 0 BB | 5 K
Josh Winckowski strikes out five in third rehab outing with Single-A Dunedin
Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Sep 5, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 4, 2026, 22:00 EDT
As the Toronto Blue Jays continue to hunt down a playoff spot, a rehabbing arm keeps pushing for an opportunity to debut this season.
On Friday night, right-hander Josh Winckowski made his third rehab appearance in Single-A with the Dunedin Blue Jays as he works his way back from an internal brace procedure in his right elbow that kept him out of game action from April 2025 to August 2026.
After Winckowski was tabbed with starting his first two rehab games, the 28-year-old worked out of Dunedin’s bullpen Friday, entering the game to begin the bottom of the second. While Winckowski has been used as both a starter and a reliever throughout his four major league seasons, 14 of his 21 career outings as a starter came during his rookie season in 2022.
During Dunedin’s 6-3 win against the Tampa Tarpons, Winckowski turned in a pitching line of 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, and threw 38 pitches (26 strikes), five more than his previous high of 33. The righty picked up the victory for his efforts in Friday’s contest.
Winckowski turned in an efficient bottom of the second inning, as he only needed nine pitches to get Luis Puello to groundout to short, Luke Pettitte to strikeout and Luis Escudero to groundout to third base. Winckowski got Pettitte to strikeout swinging on an 86.9 MPH slider.
With the game still scoreless entering the bottom of the third, Winckowski allowed his lone hit of the appearance, by way of a Diego Castellanos leadoff single. After Castellanos stole second base, Winckowski buckled down and got Blake Schaaf to strikeout swinging on a 90.5 MPH changeup, retired Yostin Pena on a groundout to short, and got out of the threat by striking out Wilberson De Pena swinging on another changeup.
After Dunedin took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, Winckowski returned for the bottom of the fourth and once again kept the Tarpons off the board. Winckowski struck out Bear Harrison on a slider, got Anthony Potestio to ground out to second base before Luis Puello reached on an error.
With a runner on first and two out, Winckowski and Pettitte engaged in a six-pitch battle with the righty, before getting Pettitte to strikeout swinging for the second time in as many at-bats. Winckowski turned to an 86.9 MPH cutter to close his outing after three very efficient innings.
Through his three rehab outings, Winckowski is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. The righty has struck out eight batters across his 6.1 innings pitched and held opponents to a .174 average.
Signed to a two-year, minor-league deal this off-season, over his four seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Winckowski has pitched in 121 games and is 13-14 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. While a return this season is unlikely as long as the Blue Jays remain in playoff contention, Winckowski is setting himself up to be an option for the club in 2027.
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