Cole Robert Winn Bio
Cole Robert Winn (born November 25, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed starter who has grown into a multi-inning relief role, Winn rose through the Rangers’ farm system after being selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 2024 and has continued to contribute to the Rangers’ pitching staff.
Known for his tall frame and heavy fastball, Winn has been viewed by evaluators as a strikeout-oriented arm since his prep days. After navigating injuries in his first major league season, he returned to the Rangers in 2025 and has settled into a meaningful bullpen role.
Early Life and Background
Winn spent his freshman, sophomore, and junior years of high school at Silver Creek High School in Longmont, Colorado. As a junior in 2017, he posted a 9–0 record with a 0.73 earned run average and 95 strikeouts across 47 and two-thirds innings, while also batting .388 with two home runs and 19 runs batted in. That performance earned him the title of Colorado’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.
That summer, Winn played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field, further raising his national profile. For his senior year, he transferred to Lutheran High School of Orange County in Orange, California, where he pitched to an 8–2 record with a 0.20 ERA. He was named California’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year.
Winn originally committed to play college baseball at Notre Dame but later decommitted and signed with Mississippi State. Instead of heading to college, however, the Texas Rangers selected him in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Path to Baseball
Winn’s path to professional baseball accelerated quickly during his senior season. His dominant performance at Lutheran High School of Orange County and his recognition as Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year established him as one of the top pitching prospects in the 2018 draft class. His fastball velocity, breaking ball, and frame drew comparisons to frontline starting pitchers.
The Texas Rangers selected Winn with the 15th overall pick in the 2018 draft and signed him to a $3.15 million signing bonus. Rather than sending him immediately to a minor league affiliate, the organization placed him in a structured development program designed for newly drafted high school pitchers. The program emphasized strength training, classroom instruction, and rest before beginning postseason fall instructional work.
Heading into 2019, Winn was widely regarded as a top prospect. MLB Pipeline ranked him 89th overall in its preseason Top 100, while ESPN’s Keith Law placed him 72nd and FanGraphs ranked him 78th in their respective lists.
Cole Robert Winn Career
Minor League Career (2019–2023)
Winn made his professional debut in 2019 with the Hickory Crawdads of the Single-A South Atlantic League. He started 18 games and compiled a 4–4 record with a 4.46 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 68 and two-thirds innings. He did not pitch in 2020 after the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, spending the year at the Rangers’ alternate training site.
In 2021, Winn was assigned to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central League. He went 3–3 with a 2.31 ERA and 97 strikeouts across 78 innings, earning a selection to the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field. After the Frisco season ended, he was promoted to the Round Rock Express of Triple-A West, where he posted a 3.38 ERA in two outings. The Rangers named him their 2021 Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year.
Texas Rangers Debut and Early Major League Years (2024)
Winn began the 2024 season at Triple-A Round Rock before being promoted to the major leagues for the first time on April 14, 2024. He struggled to a 7.79 ERA across 13 appearances before being placed on the injured list on June 24 with right shoulder discomfort. Two days later, the Rangers transferred him to the 60-day injured list, ending his season.
Return to the Rangers (2025)
Winn was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2025 season. The Rangers recalled him to the major leagues for the first time that year on May 15. He was moved between Texas and Round Rock several times throughout the summer. On August 20, the Rangers placed him on the injured list due to nerve irritation, and he was activated on September 2. He returned briefly before being placed back on the injured list on September 26 with a right rotator cuff strain, which ended his season.
In 33 major league appearances during 2025, Winn went 0–1 with a 1.51 ERA and 35 strikeouts over 41 and two-thirds innings. In 17 Triple-A outings, he posted a 0.59 ERA, reinforcing his development as a reliable relief option.
Career Statistics
Through June 20, 2026, Winn has compiled a 2–4 win-loss record with a 4.04 ERA and 75 strikeouts in his major league career with the Texas Rangers. He wears jersey number 60.
Cole Robert Winn Career Wins
Winn’s major league career is still developing, and his win total reflects his early usage in relief roles. His ability to generate strikeouts and limit runs in high-leverage situations has positioned him as a dependable arm out of the Texas Rangers’ bullpen.
Major League Highlights
Winn’s first major league win came during the 2025 season as part of his transition into a relief role. His standout performance included a 1.51 ERA across 33 appearances with 35 strikeouts, demonstrating his effectiveness in shorter outings.
Other Wins and Performances
During the 2023–24 Puerto Rican Winter League season, Winn pitched for the Criollos de Caguas, going 2–0 with a 2.63 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 24 innings. He has also earned individual recognition in the minor leagues, including the Rangers’ 2021 Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year award following his standout Double-A season.
Cole Robert Winn Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Details about Cole Robert Winn’s family background and personal life are not widely documented in public sources. He is known to be an American citizen who grew up in Longmont, Colorado, before finishing high school in Orange, California.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Cole Robert Winn’s first full year of major league action. After being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the year, he was recalled by the Rangers on May 15 and spent the bulk of the season pitching out of the Texas bullpen. In 33 appearances for the Rangers, he posted a 0–1 record with a 1.51 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 41 and two-thirds innings, establishing himself as a dependable multi-inning reliever.
Winn was shuttled between Round Rock and Texas multiple times during the year, with a brief injured list stint in August for nerve irritation and a season-ending right rotator cuff strain in late September. At Triple-A, he was even more dominant, pitching in 17 games with a 0.59 ERA, reinforcing his readiness for the major league level.
Looking ahead, Winn remains a key depth piece for the Rangers’ pitching staff, with his strikeout ability and improving command pointing toward a larger role in the coming seasons.
