Masyn Winn Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	43
AVG	.349
OBP	.356
SLG	.465
HR	0

Full name Masyn Blaze Winn
Born 03/21/2002 in Katy, TX
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Kingwood
Drafted in the 2nd round (54th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020 (signed for $2,100,000).

View Draft Report

Pound for pound, Winn could be the most purely talented player in the 2020 class. A legitimate two-way player, the Arkansas commit is overflowing with plus tools on both sides of the ball. As a hitter, he has bat speed, surprising raw power for his size (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) and plus speed that plays out of the box and on the bases. At shortstop, Winn is an exceptional athlete with massive arm strength, solid hands and impressive natural instincts. On the mound, he’s as electric. He’s been up to 98 mph with his fastball and more typically sits in the 92-96 mph range. He pairs that with a hard slider that can get slurvy, but he’s shown good feel to manipulate the pitch and has also flashed a plus changeup. All of his stuff likely plays up thanks to some deception that comes from a short and quick arm stroke. Some inconsistency and his smaller frame lead to legitimate reliever question marks. Teams are mixed on whether his upside is better as a pitcher or a hitter. If you squint you can see an impact player on both sides of the ball, though he needs more refinement and maturity on both sides. He plays the game at a quicker speed than most, but that can get him into trouble. As a position player, scouts would like to see Winn slow the game down, be more consistent on routine plays at shortstop, stay within himself more at the plate and chase fewer pitches out of the zone. Some teams wonder if he should continue playing both ways like former Louisville star Brendan McKay. He did that in a Jupiter performance last fall that is one of the best two-way performances scouts have ever seen at the event—he flashed three plus pitches on the mound and produced exit velocities of better than 100 mph three times. Winn’s upside and talent are obvious, but questions about his size and the all-around polish to his game persist.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 55/Medium

Track Record: A two-way star on the high school summer showcase circuit, Winn was a tooled-up shortstop who could touch the upper 90s from the mound. Drafted in the second round in 2020, Winn joined Jordan Walker and Tink Hence as three high school players drafted by the Cardinals inside the first two rounds that year. Winn signed for an above-slot $2.1 million and debuted the following season at Low-A Palm Beach. He saw time at both Class A levels, hitting .242/.324/.356 with five home runs. Coming into the 2022 season, Winn made adjustments to his swing, ironing out synchronization issues between his upper and lower halves. He hit the ground running and hit .349/.404/.566 in 33 games at High-A Peoria, showing a more refined hit tool. Winn was promoted to Double-A Springfield, where he produced a league-average batting line over 86 games. His star began to shine bright at the 2022 Futures Game when he unleashed a Statcast-record 100.5 mph throw from shortstop. Winn began his 2023 with Triple-A Memphis and hit .288/.359/.474 with 18 home runs in 105 games, earning a callup to St. Louis on Aug. 18. Winn retains his rookie eligibility for 2024.

Scouting Report: The advancements in Winn’s swing and subsequent contact ability has driven his profile. He now possesses plus bat-to-ball skills and limits swing-and-miss in the zone at an elite rate. Winn’s swing decisions often get him into trouble, and he bites on pitches out of the zone he should take. He struggled against velocity this year, producing poor numbers against pitches 95 mph or faster as he struggled to find his timing. Winn excels against lefthanders, and produced a .926 OPS against them in 2023. His numbers in same-side matchups are not as rosy. Winn’s lack of impact wasn’t evident by his home run totals this year, but his underlying exit velocity data is below-average. His high-end power is particularly concerning. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 101.9 mph is fringe-average for his age and level. Winn’s ability to hit his best-struck drives at optimal launch angles allows him to max out his impact. He’s an easy plus runner and threat to steal whenever he’s on base. Winn’s running is a true weapon under MLB’s new rules. In the field, Winn possesses one of the few 80 tools in his throwing arm. His arm allows him to make plays his hands can’t, though he has become adept at keeping the ball in front of him. When Winn can do that, he can make a majority of plays. His hands, actions and transfers are just average, but the package plays up due to his range and arm strength.

The Future: Winn is a skills-driven hitter with the ability to make consistent contact. Added bat speed and strength will allow him to take his offensive game to the next level. In the field, Winn has the ability to play shortstop every day because of his range and elite throwing arm. He is a future regular shortstop with above-average offensive potential. n

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 80
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Track Record: Winn was well known for his two-way ability on the showcase circuit and for Kingwood (Texas) High. The Cardinals drafted Winn in the second round in 2020 and paid him an above-slot $2.1 million. After making one appearance as a pitcher in 2021, Winn moved to shortstop full-time in 2022. He responded with a breakout season and hit .283/.364/.468 across 119 games between High-A and Double-A. Winn played in the 2022 Futures Game and made headlines by hitting 100.5 mph on a throw from shortstop. He finished his season in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Throughout the 2022 season, Winn transformed from an average contact hitter with below-average power to an above-average hitter with zone awareness and developing power. Early in minor league spring training, Winn showed improved swing mechanics with better synchronization between his upper and lower halves. His performance and metrics improved across the board as he made more contact, chased less and hit for more power. He added loft to his swing path and improved as a contact hitter in the process. His 86% zone contact rate was among the highest in the Cardinals' system in 2022, and it was reflected in his low strikeout rate of just under 21%. Winn has plus speed and instincts on the basepaths, resulting in 43 stolen bases in 48 attempts. Defensively, Winn stands out for his top-of-the-scale arm. It's one of the best throwing arms in baseball at any level. While his footwork and infield actions are average, his arm allows him to make up ground and throw out runners on anything he can knock down in front of him. Winn's arm is accurate, allowing it to play as a true 80-grade tool.

The Future: Winn fully committed to a future at shortstop in 2022 and has positioned himself as a serious candidate to be the Cardinals' future everyday regular.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 80
Track Record: Winn excelled at both shortstop and on the mound for Kingwood (Texas) High and stood out with an impressive two-way performance at the World Wood Bat Association Championships in the fall of 2019. He lost most of his senior year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Cardinals still drafted him 54th overall and gave him an above-slot $2.1 million signing bonus to forgo an Arkansas commitment. Winn made his pro debut in 2021 and played shortstop nearly exclusively in 97 games across both Class A levels, but he did make one appearance as a pitcher.

Scouting Report: Winn has arguably the strongest arm of any shortstop in the majors and minors. By the middle of July he already had 15 throws across the diamond at 92 mph or harder, more than twice as many as all major league infielders combined. The Cardinals were pleased with Winn’s development as a hitter at Low-A, but opposing scouts are split on whether he will hit enough to remain a position player moving forward. He does a good job staying in the middle of the field and adjusting his swing, but he struggles mightily with spin and is overly prone to chasing out of the strike zone. He’ll need to work on his approach and strike-zone discipline to become even a below-average hitter, and he has below-average power. The Cardinals would like to give Winn more opportunities on the mound in 2022. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and touches 98 to go with a hard slider that flashes plus and a developing changeup.

The Future: Winn will start the 2022 season back at High-A. He will get more opportunities to prove himself as a two-way prospect, but he is trending toward ending up a pitcher long term.
TRACK RECORD: Generally, prospects who attempt to be two-way players in pro ball are pitchers who also play first base or DH. Winn is the rare player who could succeed as a shortstop and a righthander. No prominent draft pick has tried to do both since 2008 first-round pick Casey Kelly played shortstop and pitched in the lower levels of the minors for the Red Sox. He eventually moved to the mound full-time.

SCOUTING REPORT: Winn is going to make the Cardinals' decision on what is his best long-term home very difficult. He's an athletic, rangy shortstop with a plus-plus arm and plus speed. He plays a little too fast at times, but his arm gives him an extra step of range most shortstops don't have. Winn's performance at the World Wood Bat Championship in 2019 cemented his status as a two-way star. Winn sat at 95 mph and touched 98 for three innings while mixing in a potentially plus slider and changeup. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and triple, with all three hits having 95 mph or better exit velocities. Winn has above-average raw power, in addition to being athletic and an intense competitor.

THE FUTURE: The Cardinals are expected to send Winn out first as a shortstop. It's hard to have him work on both because of the demands on his arm, but St. Louis is serious about letting him try to develop both as a position player and a pitcher.

Draft Prospects

Pound for pound, Winn could be the most purely talented player in the 2020 class. A legitimate two-way player, the Arkansas commit is overflowing with plus tools on both sides of the ball. As a hitter, he has bat speed, surprising raw power for his size (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) and plus speed that plays out of the box and on the bases. At shortstop, Winn is an exceptional athlete with massive arm strength, solid hands and impressive natural instincts. On the mound, he’s as electric. He’s been up to 98 mph with his fastball and more typically sits in the 92-96 mph range. He pairs that with a hard slider that can get slurvy, but he’s shown good feel to manipulate the pitch and has also flashed a plus changeup. All of his stuff likely plays up thanks to some deception that comes from a short and quick arm stroke. Some inconsistency and his smaller frame lead to legitimate reliever question marks. Teams are mixed on whether his upside is better as a pitcher or a hitter. If you squint you can see an impact player on both sides of the ball, though he needs more refinement and maturity on both sides. He plays the game at a quicker speed than most, but that can get him into trouble. As a position player, scouts would like to see Winn slow the game down, be more consistent on routine plays at shortstop, stay within himself more at the plate and chase fewer pitches out of the zone. Some teams wonder if he should continue playing both ways like former Louisville star Brendan McKay. He did that in a Jupiter performance last fall that is one of the best two-way performances scouts have ever seen at the event—he flashed three plus pitches on the mound and produced exit velocities of better than 100 mph three times. Winn’s upside and talent are obvious, but questions about his size and the all-around polish to his game persist.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Track Record: Winn was well known for his two-way ability on the showcase circuit and for Kingwood (Texas) High. The Cardinals drafted Winn in the second round in 2020 and paid him an above-slot $2.1 million. After making one appearance as a pitcher in 2021, Winn moved to shortstop full-time in 2022. He responded with a breakout season and hit .283/.364/.468 across 119 games between High-A and Double-A. Winn played in the 2022 Futures Game and made headlines by hitting 100.5 mph on a throw from shortstop. He finished his season in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Throughout the 2022 season, Winn transformed from an average contact hitter with below-average power to an above-average hitter with zone awareness and developing power. Early in minor league spring training, Winn showed improved swing mechanics with better synchronization between his upper and lower halves. His performance and metrics improved across the board as he made more contact, chased less and hit for more power. He added loft to his swing path and improved as a contact hitter in the process. His 86% zone contact rate was among the highest in the Cardinals' system in 2022, and it was reflected in his low strikeout rate of just under 21%. Winn has plus speed and instincts on the basepaths, resulting in 43 stolen bases in 48 attempts. Defensively, Winn stands out for his top-of-the-scale arm. It's one of the best throwing arms in baseball at any level. While his footwork and infield actions are average, his arm allows him to make up ground and throw out runners on anything he can knock down in front of him. Winn's arm is accurate, allowing it to play as a true 80-grade tool.

The Future: Winn fully committed to a future at shortstop in 2022 and has positioned himself as a serious candidate to be the Cardinals' future everyday regular.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 80
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Track Record: Winn was well known for his two-way ability on the showcase circuit and for Kingwood (Texas) High. The Cardinals drafted Winn in the second round in 2020 and paid him an above-slot $2.1 million. After making one appearance as a pitcher in 2021, Winn moved to shortstop full-time in 2022. He responded with a breakout season and hit .283/.364/.468 across 119 games between High-A and Double-A. Winn played in the 2022 Futures Game and made headlines by hitting 100.5 mph on a throw from shortstop. He finished his season in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Throughout the 2022 season, Winn transformed from an average contact hitter with below-average power to an above-average hitter with zone awareness and developing power. Early in minor league spring training, Winn showed improved swing mechanics with better synchronization between his upper and lower halves. His performance and metrics improved across the board as he made more contact, chased less and hit for more power. He added loft to his swing path and improved as a contact hitter in the process. His 86% zone contact rate was among the highest in the Cardinals' system in 2022, and it was reflected in his low strikeout rate of just under 21%. Winn has plus speed and instincts on the basepaths, resulting in 43 stolen bases in 48 attempts. Defensively, Winn stands out for his top-of-the-scale arm. It's one of the best throwing arms in baseball at any level. While his footwork and infield actions are average, his arm allows him to make up ground and throw out runners on anything he can knock down in front of him. Winn's arm is accurate, allowing it to play as a true 80-grade tool.

The Future: Winn fully committed to a future at shortstop in 2022 and has positioned himself as a serious candidate to be the Cardinals' future everyday regular.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 80
BA Grade: 55/High

Track Record: Winn excelled at both shortstop and on the mound for Kingwood (Texas) High and stood out with an impressive two-way performance at the World Wood Bat Association Championships in the fall of 2019. He lost most of his senior year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Cardinals still drafted him 54th overall and gave him an above-slot $2.1 million signing bonus to forgo an Arkansas commitment. Winn made his pro debut in 2021 and played shortstop nearly exclusively in 97 games across both Class A levels, but he did make one appearance as a pitcher.

Scouting Report: Winn has arguably the strongest arm of any shortstop in the majors and minors. By the middle of July he already had 15 throws across the diamond at 92 mph or harder, more than twice as many as all major league infielders combined. The Cardinals were pleased with Winn&#39s development as a hitter at Low-A, but opposing scouts are split on whether he will hit enough to remain a position player moving forward. He does a good job staying in the middle of the field and adjusting his swing, but he struggles mightily with spin and is overly prone to chasing out of the strike zone. He&#39ll need to work on his approach and strike-zone discipline to become even a below-average hitter, and he has below-average power. The Cardinals would like to give Winn more opportunities on the mound in 2022. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and touches 98 to go with a hard slider that flashes plus and a developing changeup.

The Future: Winn will start the 2022 season back at High-A. He will get more opportunities to prove himself as a two-way prospect, but he is trending toward ending up a pitcher long-term.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 40. Speed: 70. Fielding: 60. Arm: 80.
Scouting Grades (Pitching): Fastball: 70. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 40.
Track Record: Winn excelled at both shortstop and on the mound for Kingwood (Texas) High and stood out with an impressive two-way performance at the World Wood Bat Association Championships in the fall of 2019. He lost most of his senior year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Cardinals still drafted him 54th overall and gave him an above-slot $2.1 million signing bonus to forgo an Arkansas commitment. Winn made his pro debut in 2021 and played shortstop nearly exclusively in 97 games across both Class A levels, but he did make one appearance as a pitcher.

Scouting Report: Winn has arguably the strongest arm of any shortstop in the majors and minors. By the middle of July he already had 15 throws across the diamond at 92 mph or harder, more than twice as many as all major league infielders combined. The Cardinals were pleased with Winn’s development as a hitter at Low-A, but opposing scouts are split on whether he will hit enough to remain a position player moving forward. He does a good job staying in the middle of the field and adjusting his swing, but he struggles mightily with spin and is overly prone to chasing out of the strike zone. He’ll need to work on his approach and strike-zone discipline to become even a below-average hitter, and he has below-average power. The Cardinals would like to give Winn more opportunities on the mound in 2022. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and touches 98 to go with a hard slider that flashes plus and a developing changeup.

The Future: Winn will start the 2022 season back at High-A. He will get more opportunities to prove himself as a two-way prospect, but he is trending toward ending up a pitcher long term.
TRACK RECORD: Generally, prospects who attempt to be two-way players in pro ball are pitchers who also play first base or DH. Winn is the rare player who could succeed as a shortstop and a righthander. No prominent draft pick has tried to do both since 2008 first-round pick Casey Kelly played shortstop and pitched in the lower levels of the minors for the Red Sox. He eventually moved to the mound full-time.

SCOUTING REPORT: Winn is going to make the Cardinals' decision on what is his best long-term home very difficult. He's an athletic, rangy shortstop with a plus-plus arm and plus speed. He plays a little too fast at times, but his arm gives him an extra step of range most shortstops don't have. Winn's performance at the World Wood Bat Championship in 2019 cemented his status as a two-way star. Winn sat at 95 mph and touched 98 for three innings while mixing in a potentially plus slider and changeup. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and triple, with all three hits having 95 mph or better exit velocities. Winn has above-average raw power, in addition to being athletic and an intense competitor.

THE FUTURE: The Cardinals are expected to send Winn out first as a shortstop. It's hard to have him work on both because of the demands on his arm, but St. Louis is serious about letting him try to develop both as a position player and a pitcher.
TRACK RECORD: Generally, prospects who attempt to be two-way players in pro ball are pitchers who also play first base or DH. Winn is the rare player who could succeed as a shortstop and a righthander. No prominent draft pick has tried to do both since 2008 first-round pick Casey Kelly played shortstop and pitched in the lower levels of the minors for the Red Sox. He eventually moved to the mound full-time.

SCOUTING REPORT: Winn is going to make the Cardinals' decision on what is his best long-term home very difficult. He's an athletic, rangy shortstop with a plus-plus arm and plus speed. He plays a little too fast at times, but his arm gives him an extra step of range most shortstops don't have. Winn's performance at the World Wood Bat Championship in 2019 cemented his status as a two-way star. Winn sat at 95 mph and touched 98 for three innings while mixing in a potentially plus slider and changeup. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and triple, with all three hits having 95 mph or better exit velocities. Winn has above-average raw power, in addition to being athletic and an intense competitor.

THE FUTURE: The Cardinals are expected to send Winn out first as a shortstop. It's hard to have him work on both because of the demands on his arm, but St. Louis is serious about letting him try to develop both as a position player and a pitcher.
TRACK RECORD: Generally, prospects who attempt to be two-way players in pro ball are pitchers who also play first base or DH. Winn is the rare player who could succeed as a shortstop and a righthander. No prominent draft pick has tried to do both since 2008 first-round pick Casey Kelly played shortstop and pitched in the lower levels of the minors for the Red Sox. He eventually moved to the mound full-time.

SCOUTING REPORT: Winn is going to make the Cardinals' decision on what is his best long-term home very difficult. He's an athletic, rangy shortstop with a plus-plus arm and plus speed. He plays a little too fast at times, but his arm gives him an extra step of range most shortstops don't have. Winn's performance at the World Wood Bat Championship in 2019 cemented his status as a two-way star. Winn sat at 95 mph and touched 98 for three innings while mixing in a potentially plus slider and changeup. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and triple, with all three hits having 95 mph or better exit velocities. Winn has above-average raw power, in addition to being athletic and an intense competitor.

THE FUTURE: The Cardinals are expected to send Winn out first as a shortstop. It's hard to have him work on both because of the demands on his arm, but St. Louis is serious about letting him try to develop both as a position player and a pitcher.