CINCINNATI — Allan Winans finally got his chance to shine in Yankees pinstripes during a sweltering 92-degree evening at Great American Ball Park. The 29-year-old right-hander looked polished and confident through three innings before Cincinnati’s lineup figured him out. What started as a potential storybook debut became a valuable lesson in major league adjustments.
The right-hander claimed off waivers from Atlanta in January dominated Triple-A Scranton with brilliant numbers. He carried that success into his first Yankees start, retiring nine of ten batters faced in the opening three frames using just 24 pitches. Aaron Judge’s 28th home run of the season provided him a 1-0 lead to work with.
Then reality set in.
Early dominance crumbles mid-way
Winans breezed through the initial three innings, showcasing the command and pitchability that earned his surprising call-up. He replaced injured Ryan Yarbrough in the rotation with a devastating combination of low-velocity sinkers, sharp sliders, and an effective 82 mph changeup that kept Reds hitters guessing.
The fourth inning told a different story. Winans hit Matt McLain with a pitch before Elly De La Cruz ripped a game-tying triple. A sacrifice fly gave Cincinnati the lead, then Gavin Lux deposited a home run into the Yankees bullpen for a 3-1 advantage. The fifth inning brought more trouble, forcing Winans to exit with one out and runners on first and third.
His final line showed the tale of two performances: 4 1/3 innings, six hits, four earned runs, two hit batsmen, and one strikeout.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone remained encouraged despite the rough finish.
“Really sharp there the first time through the order,” Boone said. “His mix was really good. Sinker, changeup, slider — they all worked. But the second time through, they started to see him more, and he missed some spots in the heart of the plate.”
Winans reflects on mixed results
The rookie starter maintained his composure while discussing his uneven performance after the Yankees’ 6-1 loss.
“I feel like we had a really good plan,” Winans said. “The first three innings were pretty smooth. I was getting early contact. But yeah, a couple of middle-middle fastballs, a couple hit batters … I’d like those back.”
Winans acknowledged Cincinnati’s ability to make quick adjustments once they became familiar with his repertoire. The margin for error disappeared completely once the Reds solved his approach.
“It’s a good lineup,” he added. “They’ve been playing well. I felt like I battled and tried to keep us in it.”
Unconventional path to pinstripes
Winans traveled an unusual route to reach Yankee Stadium. The Mets selected him in the 17th round of the 2018 draft from Campbell University. Atlanta acquired him during the minor league portion of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft, where he struggled to establish himself.
He appeared in eight games for the Braves across 2023-24 but posted a disappointing 7.20 ERA. The Yankees took a chance on him this past January, and the investment paid immediate dividends in the minors.
Winans dominated Triple-A competition with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting a perfect 7-0 record with a microscopic 0.90 ERA. He struck out 59 batters while allowing just one home run across 50 innings of work.
He briefly joined the Yankees in mid-April but never appeared in a game, making Monday’s outing his true debut despite the earlier call-up.
Boone considers alternative role
The Yankees manager hinted at potential adjustments to Winans’ usage moving forward, possibly in shorter stints rather than traditional starting assignments.
“There’s a lot of good in there,” Boone noted. “But he’s not overpowering. His command has to be sharp, and his mix has to be crisp. For two or three innings at a time? That might be something.”
This suggestion gains importance with Marcus Stroman nearing his return from injury. Stroman’s upcoming rehab start with Double-A Somerset could determine the rotation’s immediate future. A successful outing might send Winans back to Triple-A unless the Yankees explore a hybrid bullpen role.
Offensive woes continue to plague Yankees
Beyond Winans’ mixed debut, New York’s batting lineup again failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Despite reaching base consistently throughout the game, the Yankees managed only Judge’s first-inning solo homer.
“We pressured them,” Boone said. “We had good at-bats to get on. But we didn’t come through with that big hit. That’s the difference.”
Giancarlo Stanton endured three strikeouts despite showing improved contact in recent games. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, and DJ LeMahieu also struggled in today’s game, failing to produce timely hits when needed most.
Looking forward
Monday’s defeat opened the Cincinnati series on a sour note while highlighting persistent issues with middle-inning execution on both sides of the ball. Winans’ debut featured enough positive elements to suggest future potential despite the uneven results.
The injuries plaguing the rotation and offensive inconsistency continue challenging this Yankees team. However, flashes of promise from unexpected sources like Winans provide hope for improvement.
Boone captured the situation perfectly: “You take the positives, build on the good. The game’s too hard to focus only on what went wrong.”
Allan Winans may face an uncertain future role in pinstripes, but his sweltering Monday debut in Cincinnati showed glimpses of major-league capability. For three innings, he looked like he belonged on baseball’s biggest stage.
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