Daniel Winkler (baseball)

Career

Winkler was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 43rd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of Parkland College. He did not sign and attended the University of Central Florida (UCF). He was then drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft and signed.

Winkler made his professional debut for the Casper Ghosts, going 4–3 in 12 starts with a 3.92 earned run average (ERA) and 65 strikeouts over  57 ¹⁄₃ innings. He spent the 2012 season with the Asheville Tourists. He started 25 games, going 11–10 with a 4.46 ERA and 136 strikeouts in  145 ¹⁄₃ innings. Winkler started the 2013 season with the Modesto Nuts. On June 25, 2013 he combined with two relievers to pitch a no-hitter. He was promoted to the Tulsa Drillers near the end of the season. Overall, he was 13–7 with a 2.98 ERA and 175 strikeouts in 157 innings. The 175 strikeouts led all minor league players. He returned to Tulsa to start the 2014 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in June 2014.

On December 11, 2014, the Atlanta Braves selected Winkler during the Rule 5 Draft. He was activated from the disabled list in September 2015. Winkler debuted on September 21, striking out two of the three New York Mets batters he faced.

Winkler fractured his elbow on April 10, 2016, while facing the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk. He missed the remainder of the 2016 season, and as a result, resolved to adjust his mechanics to lessen stress on his elbow. Winkler was reactivated in August 2017, but due to injury had not yet fulfilled the major league service time requirement mandated of Rule 5 draftees.