Winans was a 17th-round draft pick by the New York Mets in 2018 out of Campbell University in North Carolina. After three seasons with the Mets, the Braves selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. He made eight starts for Atlanta during the past two seasons, collecting a 7.20 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 40 innings.

Winans was a 17th-round pick by the Mets back in 2018, a Rule 5 snag by the Braves in 2021, and a DFA in January before the Yankees grabbed him. Like Yankees backup catcher JC Escarra, Winans has struggled to keep the dream alive, serving as a substitute teacher back in his hometown of Bakersfield in the offseason.

New York Yankees relief pitcher Fernando Cruz started his MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds, but he is ready to face them for the first time as a Yankee. While he has nothing but gratitude for the organization that got him his start,