Winkler Cracks Braves' 25-Man Roster

Effingham's Danny Winkler has made the Atlanta Braves' 25-man roster to begin the 2016 baseball season.

The St. Anthony High School graduate was a standout at Parkland College and the University of South Florida before rising rapidly through the Colorado Rockies organization.

That success was interrupted in 2014 when Winkler had to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Winkler recovered quickly, though, and was back pitching in 2015. The Braves had acquired Winkler and he made his first major league appearance for Atlanta last fall.

Now, Winkler has made his first major league Opening Day roster.

Winkler recorded 17 strikeouts and did not issue a walk while limiting opponents to eight hits and three runs over 11 Grapefruit League innings. The 26-year-old right-hander provides the Braves a potential multi-inning option in their bullpen.

Because Winkler was injured most of last season, the Braves would only need to keep him on their active roster through the first week of June to avoid having to offer him back to the Rockies, who owned his rights before he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft.