Cardinals shortstop prospect throws faster than most pitchers at Futures Game (Video)
By Mark Powell
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop prospect showed out at the Futures Game during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.
Are the Cards sure they don’t want to consider a position change?
Winn is the No. 89-ranked prospect in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline, and rightly so. The 20-year-old shortstop has an estimated debut of 2024, and currently plays for St. Louis Double-A team. However, when Winn received an invite to the Futures’ Game, he used it as an opportunity to show off his ridiculous arm strength.
Masyn! That was fully unnecessary!
Winn threw out the baserunner with a 100 MPH fastball. Yet, said baserunner was jogging down the line, at best!
Cardinals two-way prospect focused solely on hitting
Ironically enough, Winn does have a history as a two-way player. When St. Louis drafted him and paid him above slot value, they intended to allow him to pursue both career paths — as a pitcher and a hitter.
Yet, since his professional debut, Winn’s approach has primarily been as a hitter, as that’s his best chance at making the big leagues. It’s paid off and then some, given his current status as one of the Cardinals’ best prospects.
While Winn still needs to work on his consistency at the plate, he has an electric arm and is one of the better defensive players in the Cardinals’ system, per MLB Pipeline:
"“No surprise, Winn’s arm is his most wow-worthy tool. He had 10 throws measured at 95-plus mph by Statcast in Low-A Southeast, including one at 99.8 mph. As if that wasn’t enough defensively, the 5-foot-11 infielder is a plus runner who shows ample range at a premium position. He used those wheels to steal 32 bags in 2021, and he could be a 25-steal threat in the Majors due to his aggression and efficiency on the basepaths.”"
Assuming he continues to improve at the dish, Winn will make for an excellent shortstop of the future at Busch Stadium.