OPINION |
When he was drafted in the second round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020, Masyn Winn was projected as both a shortstop and pitching prospect.
With each extra-base hit, stolen base and impressive defensive play, Winn realizes that the chance of his throwing a professional pitch diminishes.
“Pitching is a lot of fun. A lot of fun,” Winn said with a smile. “I don’t have a problem with dropping it, for now, especially if I’m hitting well and then I’ll just continue doing that.
“I think right now, if I end up pitching again, it’s probably because I didn’t hit too well, so I’m hoping I don’t get to pitch again. But, if I do, then I’ll let it rock out there.”
Throwing fastballs across the infield
For now, Winn said he will get his kicks “throwing fastballs across the infield” from shortstop to first base. And whether it’s showing off that arm from shortstop or swinging the bat, he’s validating the high expectations that come with being the 54th player selected in the 2020 draft — 33 spots behind fellow now-20-year-old Springfield Cardinals teammate Jordan Walker.
Winn is hitting .333 with six doubles and two home runs through his first nine games since being promoted from High-A Peoria. Overall this season between Peoria and Springfield, Winn is hitting .346 with 27 extra-base hits and 16 stolen bases in 42 games.
“He’s very energetic and he’s very confident,” Springfield manager Jose Leger said in describing Winn. “He’s got some bat speed. He’s got a good idea how to play. He’s a very exciting player.”
While he’s only 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Winn has shown he has some pop with the bat to go along with outstanding speed. He has eight home runs among 56 extra-base hits in only 139 career professional games along with 48 stolen bases in 53 attempts.
Dylan Carlson returns to Hammons Field
St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder Dylan Carlson — who was a Texas League all-star with Springfield in 2019 — is expected to play throughout the weekend at Hammons Field in an injury rehab assignment. Carlson is recovering from a left hamstring strain.
A fitting middle name
Winn’s middle name of Blaze seems fitting of his special talents. He said his mother, Tiffany Rawson, was instrumental in guiding him into sports as a youngster and gave Masyn and his three brothers unique middle names. The others are Sky, Jade and Gray.
“I didn’t have a dad growing up and my mom, she was kind of playing both roles,” Winn said. “She wanted me to play every sport I could and we both kind of gravitated toward baseball.”
Born and raised in the Houston area, Winn said he also played football and basketball until high school when his sole sports focus became baseball.
“I’d like to say I was pretty good,” Winn said of the other sports. “It’s just about being athletic. I think that helped a lot.”
He added that his size helped dictate his choice of baseball.
“If I was in the NBA, I’d probably be the smallest point guard and if I was in the NFL, I’d have to be a little like Tyreek Hill,” he said of the speedy former Kansas City Chiefs receiver. “So I think baseball was just the easiest as far as what my body type fit.”
At Kingwood High School in Houston, Winn hit .417 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs as a junior while also going 13-0 with a 0.67 ERA on the pitcher’s mound with 117 strikeouts in 76 ⅓ innings.
Winn said he grew up a Houston Astros fan and cheered for guys like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, smallish middle infielders who were all-stars.
An early look at Hammons Field
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down high school sports his senior season and he had signed to play baseball at the University of Arkansas. But the Cardinals selected him in June of 2020 and he signed for $2.1 million.
Winn spent that summer at Hammons Field as part of the Cardinals’ alternate training site. While alongside other top prospects or veterans on-call for the Cardinals’ big-league roster, Winn got repetitions at shortstop and swinging the bat, while also doing some pitching.
“That was my first time in pro ball and it was definitely a new experience,” Winn said. “There were some older guys and a lot of guys that are here now and in Triple-A, so that was really good.”
Now he’s back in Springfield, playing games that count and with fans in the stands.
Leger said Winn is poised for his age, much like Walker, Winn’s highly regarded teammate on the left side of the infield.
“He knows what he wants and he knows what he needs to do,” Leger said. “He knows what kind of player he is. He likes to analyze things and he’s a smart kid.”
Leger laughed when asked if Winn had inquired about pitching.
“He’s focused right now and he knows he’s a shortstop,” Leger said.
Winn said he hasn’t set any specific goals for himself the rest of the season, other than he would like to steal 50 bases. He began the homestand with 16 between the two levels.
“I think our philosophy is get them on, move them over and get them in. With guys like Jordan Walker and Moises Gomez behind me, I can easily get on first, steal a bag and they can hit me in.
“I just want to contribute and stay consistent every day.”
Springfield fans have witnessed some future major-league Cardinals in recent years, with the likes of Dylan Carlson and Tommy Edman polishing their skills at Hammons Field. Now Winn and Walker are two to catch here while you can.
Cardinals homestand vs. Arkansas Travelers
At Hammons Field:
Tuesday: Arkansas 9, Springfield 4
Wednesday: Springfield 7, Arkansas 1
Thursday: Arkansas 16, Springfield 5
Friday: 7:05 p.m., Country Music Fireworks post-game
Saturday: 6:35 p.m., Central Bank of the Ozarks Heather Truck Cap Giveaway
Sunday: 5:35 p.m., Purina Bark in the Park and Paul Goldschmdit Bobblehead Photo/Frame giveaway first 2,000 fans; Hiland Ice Cream Sunday
Tickets: Call 417-863-0395 or visit the Cardinals box office at Hammons Field
