Baseball
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant
- Email:
- kyle.winkler@TCU.edu
Former TCU baseball player Kyle Winkler returned to campus in the Fall of 2022 as the volunteer assistant. He will transition to the role of Director of Player Development in the Fall of 2023. This marks Winkler’s second stint on the coaching staff. He served as a student assistant for the 2019 campaign while completing his undergraduate degree. Winkler returned to campus to after spending two seasons as the pitching coach at Incarnate Word.
Upon his return, Winkler was tasked with guiding the pitching corps. The group produced four draft picks while two (Luke Savage and River Ridings) were invited to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Five members of the TCU pitching staff were drafted in the summer of 2023, including two (Ryan Vanderhei and Cam Brown) in the 10th round.
In his first stint on campus, Winkler served as the bullpen coach during the 2019 campaign. TCU put together a 34-28 record and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Fayetteville (Arkansas) Regional. He helped in mentoring 1st-round draft pick Nick Lodolo to an All-American season.
Winkler spent two seasons at Incarnate Word. Prior to the unexpected shutdown of the 2020 season, the Cardinals were off to a 9-7 start and had a team ERA of 4.75. The 2021 season saw the Cardinal finish with a 21-28 record. His staff produced a 2.01 K:BB ration.
Winkler was a standout on the baseball field in his three years in the Purple and White. A 2011 All-American, Winkler was twice an All-Mountain West Conference performer in addition to earning a spot on the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Five times in his career, he was voted the conference Pitcher of the Week. Following his junior campaign, Winkler was drafted in the 10th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Arizona D’Backs.
As a freshman in 2009, Winkler was a key contributor in a starting role on TCU’s first-ever NCAA Super Regional team. He made 14 starts as part of 17 appearances and boasted a 7-1 record to go along with a 4.15 ERA in 73 2/3 innings pitched.
In 2010, Winkler spearheaded an all-star starting rotation in helping the Horned Frogs to their first-ever College World Series appearance. In 19 starts, he posted a 12-3 record with a 3.39 ERA. Winkler was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the Austin Super Regional, holding Texas to just five hits in 7 2/3 innings of work.
His final season at TCU saw him make 14 appearances, 13 starts, and boast a miniscule 1.39 ERA in 90 2/3 innings pitched. He posted a career-high 99 strikeouts and put up an 8-2 record.
For his career, Winkler was 27-6 in 50 appearances. He tossed five complete games and amassed 239 strikeouts in 281 innings of work. Winkler had a career ERA of 2.95.
Winkler spent seven seasons in professional baseball playing in the Arizona D’Backs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays’ organizations. He made 20 starts as part of 215 career appearances on the mound. In 352 innings pitched, Winkler fanned 345 batters and boasted an ERA of 4.50.
Winkler and his wife Stephanie have a daughter, Kole.
