The move came in the wake of Peter Strzelecki landing on the 15-day injured list with right forearm extensor inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday. That injury created a need for an additional arm in a bullpen-day scenario that already had Gordon Graceffo lined up to open.
Winquest’s path back to St. Louis is a story of a circuitous journey through the professional ranks. The Cardinals selected him in the eighth round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Texas at Arlington. He later found himself in the Yankees organization after New York acquired him in December’s Rule 5 draft—their first Rule 5 selection since 2011. The Rule 5 designation required Winquest to stay on the active roster all season, which would have given him his big-league debut with the Yankees this year, though he never appeared in a game.
Winquest briefly drew interest from the Yankees’ staff during spring training, and he faced a string of spring appearances that didn’t yield game action. After being designated for assignment to make room on the roster for other pitchers, the Yankees returned him to St. Louis. The Cardinals added him to Memphis and kept him off the 40-man roster, allowing him to continue developing as a reliever.
Since returning to the Cardinals organization, Winquest has worked exclusively from the bullpen at Memphis, featuring a mid-90s fastball and an upper-70s curveball, which scouts have long considered his best secondary pitch. His strikeout rate has been strong, sitting well above typical rates for his level.
This season, Winquest gains a fresh chance with the Cardinals, who are giving him a chance to contribute at the major league level. Whether Marmol uses him in the Thursday bullpen game or preserves him for a later matchup, Winquest is positioned to potentially deliver the major league appearance that eluded him previously.
Winquest’s season has featured a development arc from college pitcher to a possible late-blooming contributor in St. Louis. His time in the minors showed progression as a reliever, and his velocity paired with a breaking ball offers the potential for key innings in high-leverage situations. He joins a bullpen group eager to maximize prospects and provide depth when needed.
On the other side, the Orioles bring a stout lineup to Busch Stadium, with a lineup that has showcased balanced power and run production. Notable contributors have included Jackson Holliday, Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson, Samuel Basallo, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, among others. The group has shown the ability to manufacture offense and capitalize on opportunities, making the matchup an intriguing test for a Cardinals team looking to finish strong.
In terms of outlook, Winquest’s up-and-down journey underscores the volatility associated with Rule 5 et cetera, but it also highlights the system’s ability to uncover hidden depth. If he can translate his mid-90s fastball and breaking ball into effective major league appearances, he could become a valuable option for St. Louis in late-inning scenarios or multi-inning bullpen stints.
Fans can expect a bullpen-oriented role initially as the Cardinals evaluate how Winquest handles big-league hitters and adjusts to the higher level of competition. His debut, whenever it occurs, will mark a milestone in a journey that has included stints in both the high minors and the majors, as well as the unique twist of a Rule 5 experience that briefly placed him in the Yankees’ plans before returning to the Cardinals system.
Lineups for the game are subject to change, and this matchup features a mix of rookies and veterans eager to prove themselves over the course of a long season. The Cardinals will look to capitalize on the chance to secure a win at home while Winquest gets his first shot at the majors, hoping to deliver the pitch repertoire that has drawn attention from scouts and coaches alike.
