Cole Winn of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during a Spring Training game at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2023 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Right-handed pitcher Cole Winn, the No. 28 prospect from the Texas Rangers organization according to MLBpipeline.com, will play for the Criollos de Caguas in the 2023-24 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente season, the organization announced on Thursday.
Winn, 23, was born in Longmont, Colorado and can throw his fastball up to 97 mph. His curveball ranges from 78-82 mph, and his slider going ranges from 84-86 mph.
Winn was drafted 15th overall in the 2018 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California by the Rangers and signed for $3.15 million, foregoing his commitment to Mississippi State University.
He finished up his fourth professional season and third with the Triple-A Round Rock Express, helping the organization reach the Pacific Coast League Championship Series losing to the Oklahoma City Dodgers and being swept in of the best-of-three series.
Winn went 9-8 this past season over 13 starts and 29 appearances, posting a 7.22 ERA and throwing 101.1 innings, allowing 114 hits, 81 earned runs, 17 home runs, walking 79 batters, and 97 strikeouts with a 1.911 WHIP.
Winn landed on the seven-day Injured List on May 20, and he’s suffered several other notable injuries, including one to his left ankle from a comebacker during the 2022 season.
Winn had X-rays that came back negative with no damaged ligaments or broken bones last season. According to Tieren Alexander from Prospectslive.com, “The injury affected his mechanics, Winn had less bend towards his gloveside after the injury as that put weight on his ankle, and likely caused him some minor pain.”
During the 2022 season, his first full season with the Round Rock Express, Winn posted a 9-8 record with a 6.51 ERA in 28 starts, throwing 121.2 innings and allowing 125 hits, 88 earned runs, 13 home runs, 87 walks, and 123 strikeouts alongside a 1.742 WHIP.
After the 2020 Minor League Baseball season was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Winn split 2021 between Double-A Frisco and Round Rock, going 4-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 21 starts, throwing 86 innings and allowing 43 hits, 23 earned runs, seven home runs, 31 walks, and 107 strikeouts with a 0.860 WHIP.
In his first professional season at Low-A Hickory, Winn started in 18 games with a 4-4 record throwing 68.2 innings posting a 4.46 ERA allowing 59 hits, 34 earned runs, five home runs, 39 walks, and 65 strikeouts alongside a 1.427 WHIP
The Gigantes de Carolina, RA12, Cangrejeros de Santurce, Indios de Mayagüez, Leones de Ponce, and Criollos de Caguas are the teams that will play during the 2023-24 LBPRC season.
The Leones de Ponce will play against Criollos de Caguas on November 4 at Estadio Yldefonso Sola Morales at 7:45 p.m. EDT.
All teams will start the season on November 4. The Indios de Mayaguez will play RA12 at 7:45 p.m. EDT at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on November 4 and the Cangrejeros de Santurce will play their first game of the 2023-24 LBPRC winter league season on November 4 on the road against the Gigantes de Carolina at Estadio Roberto Clemente at 7:45 p.m. EDT.
Individual team social media pages from the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente will have information on upcoming games to be streamed on their Facebook and YouTube pages.