Dan Winkler Signs Minor League Contract With Rangers, Spencer Patton Member Of Rangers

Winkler has undergone some surgeries including Tommy John surgery in 2014 but came back and was selected in Rule 5 Draft by the Atlanta Braves December 11, 2014. He debuted on September 21 and struck out two of three batters he faced.

Then on April 10, 2014, he fractured his elbow and missed the remainder of the season. He signed a one-year contract with the Braves and in the 2018 season he had an ERA of 3.43 in 69 games, striking out 69 in 60 1/2 inninchgs.

He was traded to the San Francisco Giants July 31, 2019 and became a free agent after the season.

The Chicago Cubs signed him on December 6, 2019. In 2020 he had an ERA of 2.95 with 18 strikeouts in 18 innings. In 2021 in 47 ganes, he posted a 5.22 ERA with 40 strikeouts. On August 17, 2021 he was designated for assignment by the Cubs and released August 20.

Winkler has now signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers March 14. The deal includes an invitaton to Major League spring training.

The Rangers are signing him to a minor league contract, pending a physical.

Winkler ranked third among the Cubs relievers in innings last season. The Cubs designated him for assingment in August. Winkler then elected minor league free agency after not being claimed through waivers.

Winkler has kept his fastball at between 93 and 94 mph. He hopes to earn a big league spot with the Rangers relief corps.

Another familiar name to area baseball fans is South Central High School graduate Spencer Patton.

Patton, now 34 years old, attended Parkland College and transferred to Southern Illinois University/Edwardsville. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 24th round of the 2011 Major League Draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie ball Idaho Falls Chukars and finished with a 3.40 ERA in 19 games and a 3-1 record.

In 2014, Patton was traded from the Royals to the Texas Rangers. He competed in the Major Leagues for the first time making his debut September 4, 2014. He gave up one earned run in 9.1 innings pitched in 2014 with a 0.94 ERA. He made 27 appearances for the Ranger sin 2015.

On November 20, 2015, the Rangers traded him to the Chicago Cubs where he made 16 relief appearances and finished 1-1 with a 5.48 ERA. Patton did not participate in the playoffs but was still on the 40-man roster at the time the Cubs won th 2016 World Series.

He was released by the Cubs so he could head to Japan and play ball. He signed with the Yokohama DENA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 2017 he had a 4-3 record and a 2.70 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 60 innings. The next year he had a 5-1 record with 2.57 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 56 innings.

He remained with the BayStars until December 2022 when he became a free agent.

On February 2, 2021 Patton signed a minor league contract with the Rangers and was invited to spring training. He was assigned to Triple-A Round Rock Express before his contract was selected to the active roster and he threw 42.1 innings for Texas in 2021 posting a 2-2 record and a 3.83 ERA.

Patton is listed on the 2022 Texas Rangers roster and he and Winkler could become teammates if Winkler is called up to the Major League Rangers this season.