Josh Winckowski, a right-hand pitcher, will start the 2024 season in the bullpen, according to a decision made by Red Sox manager Alex Cora, according to a number of sources in the Boston sports media landscape this morning.
Along with other reliever-starter hybrids Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Cooper Criswell, Winck had been looking like a contender for a spot in the starting rotation come opening day of the season. It appears that he will once again be a multi-inning player out of the pen.
To be honest, that’s probably a good thing right now. In 2023, Winckowski excelled in relief. He was a vital member of a bullpen that was one of the few shining moments in an otherwise terrible season, to use the words of my Irish forefathers. A huge thank you to Tyler Milliken of The Sports Hub for organizing the data for Winck in relief last year and saving me a ton of time.