Joe Winkelsas
Encyclopedia
Joseph Winkelsas is a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher. He is currently a free agent.
, a small NJCAA school in Allendale, South Carolina
. While at USC Salkehatchie, he led the NJCAA Division II in ERA
his sophomore season. After completing two years at USC Salkehatchie, he then went on to Elon University
.
as an amateur free agent in 1996. He began his professional career that season with the minor league Danville Braves
, and over the next three years he worked his way through the Braves' farm system. He made his major league debut on April 10, 1999 with the Braves, pitching one-third of an inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks
and allowing four hits, a walk, and two runs. He then was sent to the minors, and continued to pitch in the Braves' farm system until July 2003, when he was released.
. He pitched just three games for them before being released, and signed with the Somerset Patriots
, another independent team. After seven games with the Patriots, he was picked up by the Chicago White Sox
organization and was assigned to their farm system. By the end of the season, he had made it back to the Charlotte Knights
, where he pitched the rest of 2004. He started 2005 back in Charlotte, but was released in April. He signed with The Grays
of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, where he pitched just one game before developing an arm injury.
organization, and was assigned to the Huntsville Stars
, the Brewers' Double-A affiliate. On May 23, 2006, the Brewers called him up, and he made his second big-league appearance that day against the Cincinnati Reds
, a scoreless third of an inning. He stayed in the big leagues with the Brewers until June 21, and he announced his retirement on July 4, 2006 due to arm numbness, having appeared in just seven games.
and Triple-A Richmond
in the Atlanta chain before being released in midseason.
before he was once again released on May 31, 2008. He has not pitched professionally since.
athletic hall of fame.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher. He is currently a free agent.
Amateur career
Winkelsas started his college career in 1992 at the University of South Carolina SalkehatchieUniversity of South Carolina Salkehatchie
The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public university with its main campus in Allendale and a branch campus in Walterboro. It is one of the 4 regional USC campuses accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as part of the flagship campus...
, a small NJCAA school in Allendale, South Carolina
Allendale, South Carolina
Allendale is a town in Allendale County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,052 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Allendale County.-Geography:...
. While at USC Salkehatchie, he led the NJCAA Division II in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
his sophomore season. After completing two years at USC Salkehatchie, he then went on to Elon University
Elon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
.
Atlanta Braves
Winkelsas signed with the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as an amateur free agent in 1996. He began his professional career that season with the minor league Danville Braves
Danville Braves
The Danville Braves are a minor league baseball team in Danville, Virginia, USA. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1993. The Braves play home games at American Legion Post 325 Field...
, and over the next three years he worked his way through the Braves' farm system. He made his major league debut on April 10, 1999 with the Braves, pitching one-third of an inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and allowing four hits, a walk, and two runs. He then was sent to the minors, and continued to pitch in the Braves' farm system until July 2003, when he was released.
Chicago White Sox
Winkelsas did not pitch professionally for the rest of 2003, and in 2004 he signed with the independent Elmira PioneersElmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
. He pitched just three games for them before being released, and signed with the Somerset Patriots
Somerset Patriots
The Somerset Patriots are an American professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, another independent team. After seven games with the Patriots, he was picked up by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
organization and was assigned to their farm system. By the end of the season, he had made it back to the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
, where he pitched the rest of 2004. He started 2005 back in Charlotte, but was released in April. He signed with The Grays
The Grays
The Grays were a professional independent baseball team. They were a traveling team which played in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, where he pitched just one game before developing an arm injury.
Milwaukee Brewers
He worked as a garbage man for a while, which helped rebuild his arm strength. In the spring of 2006, Winkelsas signed with the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organization, and was assigned to the Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
, the Brewers' Double-A affiliate. On May 23, 2006, the Brewers called him up, and he made his second big-league appearance that day against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, a scoreless third of an inning. He stayed in the big leagues with the Brewers until June 21, and he announced his retirement on July 4, 2006 due to arm numbness, having appeared in just seven games.
Back to the Braves
Winkelsas retired following his seven-game stint for the Brewers in 2006. However, he returned to professional baseball in 2007, returning to the Braves organization. That year, he combined to go 2-2, 3.00 in 19 outings between Double-A MississippiMississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a minor league baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and plays in the Southern League. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media, which...
and Triple-A Richmond
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
in the Atlanta chain before being released in midseason.
Back to the White Sox
Winkelsas again sat out the remainder of the season, but in 2008 he returned to the White Sox organization. He had a stretch of 26 scoreless innings, with more than half of those against White Sox affiliates, so the Sox took another chance on him. This stint lasted just seven games between Charlotte and BirminghamBirmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
before he was once again released on May 31, 2008. He has not pitched professionally since.
Honors
On January 29, 2009, Winkelsas became the first member inducted into the University of South Carolina SalkehatchieUniversity of South Carolina Salkehatchie
The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public university with its main campus in Allendale and a branch campus in Walterboro. It is one of the 4 regional USC campuses accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as part of the flagship campus...
athletic hall of fame.