Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Top 5 Prospects We should See in 2022
By Otto Johnson
Minnesota Twins Prospect No. 3: Josh Winder (No. 9 Prospect)
2021 Stats: 14 G, 14 GS, 72 IP, 4-0, 2.63 ERA, 0.944 WHIP, 80-13 K-BB
One of the fastest rising prospects in the Twins’ system, Josh Winder represented the Twins at the All-Star futures game this year after putting together a truly dominant stat line over ten starts at Double-AA Wichita. Winder put together a 1.98 ERA and 0.933 WHIP with a dazzling 65-10 K-BB ratio.
He earned a promotion to Triple-AAA, but made just four starts before being shut down with a shoulder injury in August. This put a damper on what had been an incredible season to that point. It also cast doubt on whether he will be making it to the majors in the near future.
He boasts a big 6’5″ frame that helped add velocity to his pitches, a mix that includes a fastball that touches upper 90s. His curveball improved with the added velocity, and his changeup looks better with his other pitches gaining speed.
There was a possibility that Winder could have made a spot start or two for the Twins in late September had he not gotten hurt, but now he’s likely to start the year in Triple-AAA next season and will be joining Duran, Strotman, and one final pitcher on this list trying to land a spot in the major league rotation.
The Twins really like what they’ve seen from Winder, and I’m sure that he’ll get ample chance to make the rotation by the end of the year. With fourteen games at the upper minors under his belt this year, I’d guess that he makes it up before Duran (and Balazovic as well).