MESA, Ariz. — Cade Winquest was a rare Yankees Rule 5 pick, and now he has accomplished an even rarer feat: making the club’s Opening Day roster.
The reliever will be on the club’s 26-man roster to open the season on Wednesday, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported Tuesday, giving the Yankees a longer look at the pitcher they had long been interested in instead of offering him back to the Cardinals just yet.
Winquest still faces an uphill battle to remain on the active roster all season, but for now, he becomes the first Rule 5 pick to make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster since Josh Phelps in 2007.
Cade Winquest made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The right-hander, who has not yet pitched above Double-A, posted a 7.20 ERA across nine games this spring, but the Yankees were pleased with the adjustments he made since joining the organization in December.
They have worked on tweaking his pitch package, including adding a sinker, as the former starter made a full-time transition to the bullpen.
