Josh Winder ’19 on the mound for the Keydets. In July 2021, Winder became the first VMI alumnus to play in Major League Baseball’s Futures Game. The seventh-round draft pick had a spectacular 2021 season, including a promotion to the Minnesota Twins’ AAA St. Paul Saints.—Photo courtesy VMI Keydets.
Josh Winder ’19, former VMI baseball standout, competed for the American League Team at the 2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, as part of MLB’s All-Star Weekend in July 2021. Winder is the first VMI alumnus to compete in the contest.
Winder, a right-handed pitcher, had a spectacular start to the 2021 season. He began the year at the Minnesota Twins AA affiliate Wichita Wind Surge.
In 10 starts for the Wind Surge, he went 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA, 65 strikeouts, and just 10 walks over 54.2 innings. Winder was promoted to the Class AAA St. Paul Saints in late June 2021, where he had a 4.67 ERA and a 1-0 record in four starts. He began the season as the Twins’ No. 12 ranked prospect by MLB.com.
Winder became the third-highest draft pick in school history when he was selected in the seventh round by the Twins in 2018. Winder finished his career at VMI with the top K/9 mark in school history; second in BB/9; and tied for third in wins, second in strikeouts, and fourth in both games started and innings pitched. He earned Second Team All-SoCon honors in his final two seasons.
