When hundreds of Mercer County baseball fans packed the newly renamed Bob DeMeo field this past Wednesday, they were on hand to witness one of the best high school pitchers in the country. Those fans were treated to five scoreless innings from the soon to be named Mercer County Tournament MVP. When Jordan Winston takes the mound, he makes one of the worlds most difficult sports look simple and easy. However, the process that has molded Jordan Winston into the pitcher and person he is today, has been anything but easy.
When Jordan was just nine years old, his father and former baseball great, Darrin Winston, passed away from medical malpractice stemming from a faulty biopsy procedure. With Darrin Winston’s passing, Jordan didn’t just lose a father. The death of Darrin Winston also meant a nine year old lost his pitching coach, left hand man (Darrin and Jordan are both lefties), life mentor, and his “superman.” Jordan’s life was forever changed.
Jordan’s older brother Jake, who was only 16 at the time of his father’s passing, knew he had to step up to the plate for his younger brother. Upon his father’s tragic death, Jake recalled, “The first thing that went through my mind after my father passed was my younger siblings… Jordan only being 9…. He didn’t have as many memories with my father as I did… My heart broke for him.”
Jake knew he had to remain mentally tough for Jordan’s sake. With his father’s passing, Jake understood he now had various roles to play. He recounts that the transition from big brother to father figure wasn’t all that easy. “It was a serious struggle at first… It took me years to figure out the balance between being a big brother and a father figure to Jordan.” Although Jake had difficulties with his new identity, Jordan certainty didn’t take notice. “My brother stepped into my dad’s role right away… Once my dad passed he was instantly there for me… Jake is a father figure to me.”
Before his dad passed, Jake knew he had to be tough no matter what curveballs life threw at him. “The biggest thing my dad always taught us was that adversity builds character… It’s something he stood by his entire life.”
Darrin Winston had certainly dealt with his fair share of adversity throughout his 42 years of life. After a legendary college career, he spent the next ten years in seven different minor league baseball organizations. 10 seasons of grueling minor league baseball only resulted in two seasons of big league action.
Some say after his professional baseball career was over, Darrin Winston found his true life’s calling in coaching. Through pitching lessons, Darrin was able to pass along his professional baseball knowledge, and renowned character to those he mentored. One of the more notable players Darrin coached was former high school standout and Potomac State College commit Nick Senatore.
Senatore had countless coaches throughout his baseball career, but none ever as unique as Darrin Winston. Senatore clarifies that, “When he gave me lessons… It was so much more than just baseball…we wouldn’t start the lessons with baseball… It was always him asking about my family, and how I was doing in school.”
Darrin Winston cared so deeply about how Senatore was doing in school, he would make him show up to lessons with his report card. If the grades weren’t up to Darrin’s standards, Senatore was told to run laps instead of pitching.
Another distinctive aspect Senatore observed about his beloved pitching coach was the relationship he had with his son Jordan. Senatore recollects that, “Jordan was connected at his dad’s hip throughout all his lessons…. He would spend the entire day watching his dad… He would do nothing but learn all day.”
The countless hours Jordan spent watching his dad are directly attributed to how he presently carries himself.
Jordan attacks life strikingly similar to the way his late father did. One would think an 18 year old who is currently posting a perfect 7 – 0 record with a 1.46 era, and 52 strikeouts would lack some level of humility. Think again, because despite being the star of his team, Jordan Winston carries himself in the same way as the last player to get off the bench.
When asked how he stacks up against other pitchers in Mercer County (Jordan is clearly one of the best) he sheepishly stated, “I think my mechanics are more improved than others… and that’s my advantage.”
Jordan is such an elite pitcher he is already committed to play at Oklahoma State next year, and has the attention of several major league scouts.
Even Jordan’s brother is blown away by his modesty. Jake Winston proudly states, “Jordan has no idea how good he is at baseball… Each time someone writes an article about him he is shocked… I literally have to tell him how great of a talent he is for him to believe it.”
Jake attributes the origin of his brother’s humility to that of his father. Jake observes, “My brother truly inherited my dad’s humbleness…. People who met my dad after his professional baseball career never even knew any of his accomplishments until after he passed.”
In addition to inheriting his dad’s world-class modesty, Jordan is also physically built identically to his father. Jordan wears the same number nine to honor his father, and throws lefty just like his dad did.
One category Jordan is not shy about is the degree to which he attempts to emulate his father. He explains, “I try to be exactly like my dad everyday…. Every time I step on the mound I try to throw just like him…. I constantly watch his old pitching videos.”
Imitating someone of Darrin Winston’s stature is never a bad move. Jake Winston believes the mindset and physical attributes his brother inherited from their father is a direct result of Jordan’s dominance. “For Jordan to have my fathers build and his on the field mentality… It’s an unbelievable one two punch.”
Nick Senatore thinks this one two punch will undoubtedly lead Jordan to a promising future in baseball and life. Senatore rationalized, “I’ve known Jordan since he was six… he’s always been an absurdly hard working and a respectful kid. That combination will take him to the league.”
Despite only having his father’s tutelage through his pre-teen years, Jordan spent every second he had with his dad absorbing his wisdom like a sponge. Winston may have only been around his father for 9 short years, but Darrin Winston’s untouchable legacy lives on through Jordan’s actions both on and off the field every single day.
