Catching Up With Atlanta Braves Pitcher Daniel Winkler

Last Thursday, with the 11th pick in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft, the Atlanta Braves selected pitcher Daniel Winkler.

Since Winkler was drafted in 2011 by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th round, he has spent four years working his way up the ladder for Colorado.  In 2013 he led the minors in total strikeouts and earned the California League Pitcher of the Year award.  In 2014, he was leading the minors with a 1.41 ERA in early June but than disaster struck.

An MRI confirmed that he tore his ulnar collateral ligament and needed to have Tommy John surgery.

At seasons end, the Colorado Rockies did not protect Winkler and the Braves scooped him up in the Rule 5 Draft.  The Braves are hoping for big things out of him but for right now, he has to recover from his injury.

Assistant general manager John Coppolella had said of Winkler “He’s got a lot of deception, very funky, really good breaking ball.”

When welcoming Winkler to the Atlanta Braves, we asked him if he would mind answer a couple questions for us.  He very politely agreed and so we have the following….enjoy!

Tomahawk Take: First off, would you prefer Braves fans call you “Dan” or “Daniel”?

Daniel Winkler: It doesn’t matter. When I meet people, I say Dan because it’s easier to say, haha.

TT: Growing up in Illinois, how did you get all the way down to Orlando for school at the University of Central Florida?

DW: Well, I went to junior college at Parkland College in Champaign, IL, where the University of Illinois is, and my junior college coach just did a great job of getting me recruited. I had interest from all over the country, from Washington St., FIU, Auburn, Clemson, UCF, and quite a few schools in the mid west. However, I loved the idea of going south and getting out of the cold. When I went and visited UCF I “fell in love,” so to speak. I committed the next day, actually. I’m very, very much looking forward going coming back to Orlando for spring training.

TT: In the 2010 MLB draft, you were selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 43rd round…being from Illinois, was there a significant pull or pressure to go ahead and sign with the Cubs when you were drafted?

DW: I actually grew up an hour and a half west of St. Louis, so I grew up a huge Cardinal fan. It’s a very mixed fan base where I’m from, though, between mostly the Cubs and the Cardinals, with some White Soxs fans. I had quite a few people wanting me to sign with the Cubs and quite a few telling me they would disown me, ha! However, the reason I didn’t sign had nothing to do with me being a Cardinals fan. I honestly just didn’t feel I was ready for professional baseball mentally and physically, coming out of junior college, and I made a commitment to UCF that I wanted to honor.

TT: What made you feel like “okay – this is the right time to sign” when the Rockies picked you in the 20th round of the 2011 MLB draft?

DW: Well many reasons, actually. One reason was I made it by myself being far away from home. My girlfriend, who is now my wife, and I were able to do the long distance thing and it worked. So, I was prepared in that aspect. Another reason was, I developed mentally and physically in my one year at UCF. It was an up and down season and mentally I was put to the test. I had a terrible 3 games stretch where I couldn’t get anybody out, but I learned a lot about myself and I learned how to deal with failure.

TT: Do you have a desired/or preferred jersey number that you must wear? If so, why?

DW: I don’t really, maybe 39. I just like the idea of wearing a jersey with Braves on the front of it.

TT: Knowing baseball is a sport where it’s 90% mental, do you have any pre game superstitions or pre game routines?  What about during the game?  Ex) fix your hat, tap your toes, round the mound before an inning…

DW: Not really. I have routines I do each day, but nothing specific. I do move a lot on the mound, I have noticed, but I think that’s just more of a comfort thing.

TT: What was the feeling when you first realized your elbow was injured?  As well as the thoughts that went through you mind when the doctors said you would need Tommy John Surgery?

DW: The feeling when I hurt my elbow was, as best as I can describe it, a tight band that just snapped. It went from my shoulder down to my fingers. After I threw the pitch, it just felt like my elbow had no support at all, like it was just hanging there, but I didn’t feel any pain at all. That was, until the next day. I couldn’t brush my teeth, turn a door knob, or anything like that. I remember going to the field the next day and watching guys throw and thinking I don’t know how I’ll be able to do that again. When I found out I needed the surgery, I wasn’t surprised. I knew what it was, but it was still very difficult. This would be the first time ever in my life I was going to miss any playing time because of an injury, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it. Another thing that killed me was, I felt I was pretty close to being called up and realizing a life long dream, and it was kind of taken from me. However, I prayed a lot and I trusted that this was all part of a God’s greater plan. Which helped me keep a great attitude and get through it. But what helped me the most were my teammates. They were so amazing. I’ll never forget the day I tore it, I came back to the dugout, after being looked at by the doctors, and everyone was giving me big long hugs, as the game was going on. That was a moment, in my eyes, that was bigger than the game. But, I got through though it by taking it day by day. I don’t think I would be in this opportunity if not for it.

TT: Did you get a pre-planned “script” or schedule of what your surgery rehab was going to be?

DW: Yes. Doctor Andrews has a protocol we followed throughout my rehab of where I should be at certain weeks.

TT: What does a Tommy John rehab session consist of?

DW: The first 4-6 weeks consist of just getting that range of motion back and a lot of shoulder strengthening. Weeks 6-12 are mostly shoulder and elbow strengthening. After week 12 I can start lifting again. Then, after 4 months I can start throwing. Next week, I think will be 5 weeks into throwing, which I get to move back to 90 feet. Hopefully my first bullpen session will be end of January/beginning of February, but we will see how I progress and how the Braves want me to progress.

TT: We’ve heard that this injury disproportionately impacts pitchers that have been doing a lot of baseball – even pitching more-or-less year-round during their teen years.  What was your experience?

DW: I think it had to do with me throwing a lot when I was younger. I had 5 and a half months off of throwing after I injured my elbow and that was probably the most time I had taken off since I was in junior in high school. In high school, my school was too small to have football so we played fall baseball instead. So, I was throwing from February up to October. Then in college, I don’t ever recall taking any time off of throwing. The weird thing with my injury too was that it was acute. It really only happened on one pitch. I never had any elbow problems, other than small nerve issues, before that.

TT: Was baseball all that what you did, or were you playing other sports outside of the regular baseball season?

DW: I played basketball all 4 years of high school, but I would usually start throwing again towards the end of basketball season.

TT: What would be your realistic goal when you get back on the mound?

DW: My realistic goal, one, is to get healthy and get back to where I was prior to the elbow injury. I want to be able, though, be to be a guy, at the major league level, that my manger has confidence in giving to ball to, at any point in the game. Whether that’s every 5 days or in the bullpen. I want to be able to help put the Atlanta Braves in a position to win baseball games.

TT: Coming to the Braves, did you already know any of your new teammates?…from prior teams, leagues or any games you may have played in?

DW: I honestly don’t know anyone in the Braves organization, which is actually kind of crazy and intimidating. We did face Alex Wood maybe a couple times in 2012, but I have never spoken to him. I know it’ll be tough, especially being a rule 5 guy (injured one at that), but I’m very much looking forward to meeting some new guys and getting the season started.

TT: What’s the most intriguing part about joining the Atlanta Braves? Or what are you most looking forward to?

DW: I’m most looking forward to being part of a rich history of great pitchers and a winning tradition. I grew up watching Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, John Rocker, all of those guys, and to possibly be able to put on that Brave uniform, as they did, will truly be an honor and a dream come true.

TT: Thank you again for taking time to particiapte in this question and answer.  Good luck on your recovery and 2015!

DW: Thank you for the opportunity to do this! It means a lot to me to feel welcomed by so many. Again, I very much appreciate the opportunity. Take care and happy holidays!