Jesse Winker: 2024 Wild Card Champion Mets DH /Outfielder (2024)

Jesse Winker was born on August 17th, 1993, in Buffalo, New York. His family lived in Niagra Falls until he was seven years old & they relocated to Orlando, Florida. As a teenager he played baseball with future Met Francisco Lindor & the two became friends.

Quotes- Francisco Lindor: " He always talked a lot, he was always crazy, he was always outgoing, he could always hit, he was always funny. He hasn't changed much."

Although he was committed to playing baseball at Florida State, he got signed by the Cincinnati Reds as first round pick & chose not to attend the college.

Winker would play five seasons with the Reds (2017-2021) batting an overall .288. In those years he batted over .290 three times with a career best .305 average in 2021. That season he put up career highs in hits (129) doubles (32) HRs (24) RBIs (71) OPS (.949) & made an All-Star appearance.

Multi-Hit Multi- HR Games: On May 21st Winker had his first career multi-three HR game, coming in a 9-4 win over the Brewers. On June 6th he did it again, hitting three HRs in three straight at bats in an 8-7 win over the Cardinals. In that game he collected a season high six RBIs which he matched again on August 7th. 

On that season he had 13 games where he collected three or more hits, three multi-HR games & six games where he drove in at least three runs or more.

Grand Slam HR: On August 12th he hit his second career grand slam off the Braves Kyle Mueller in a 12-3 win. It was his first grand slam since his first in 2018 against the Cubs Felix Pena.

In 2022 he spent the season in Seattle but hit. just .219 in 136 games. He did hit 14 HRs with 53 RBIs but it was a big drop off from the previous year. 

Brawl: On June 26th he was hit in the thigh by the Angels Andrew Wantz. Winker charged the mound starting a bench clearing brawl. He would have three separate confrontations during the mele including getting hit by Anthony Rendon who was in a cast. He was ejected & on his way out flipped off the Angels fans in Anaheim. He later apologized for that action.

Grand Slam HR: On August 7th, when the Angels came to Seattle, Winker hit his third career grand slam, coming off Tucker Davidson leading his team to a 6-3 win.

Things didn't go well with him & the Mariners organization thru the season. In December 2022 he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Kolten Wong. Injuries limited him to 61 games & he hit just .199.

2023 Post Season-NLWC: He made two pinch hit appearances going 0-2 in the loss Arizona. Winker heard the boos from the frustrated Brewer fans in Milwaukee when striking out in Game #1.

He was granted free agency & signed with the Washington Nationals. 

HR in Milwaukee: On July 12th in his return to Milwaukee, he hit a solo HR off the Brewers Freddy Peralta, collecting two hits & two RBIs while taunting the fans in a 5-2 Nat's win.

In 101 games as the Nat's main DH, he hit .257 with 11 HRs & 45 RBIs posting a .793 OPS a big improvement from his past two seasons.

At the trade deadline he was sent to Mets to add a left-handed bat in the DH spot & provide more outfield help. In New York he reunited with his childhood friend Francisco Lindor.

Encounters With the Fans: Winker who is famous for engaging & taunting along with the fans was no stranger to the Citi Field fans. He was involved in some escapades with them as a visiting player, now as a home player he would have to win them over, which he certainly eventually did. 

In May 2019 he homered off Edwin Diaz at Citi Field & made a game saving catch in left field. He waved to the Mets fans upon his exit. He was later ejected for arguing a strike & the fans got him back. 

In 2021 he acknowledged a fan who had a sign geared toward him in left fed, throwing him a ball with the message glad to see fans back at the ballpark. This after the Covid 2020 debacle of a season. 

In 2022 as a member of the Mariners he homered & took his time rounding the bases. As the fans booed him he turned & gave them aa a wave around the home plate area. 

Quotes- Jesse Winker: "I'm going to be honest with you, I love them. They're an amazing group
of people. They are passionate about their tea & their city. And from a guy born in upstate New York, a big fan of that football team up there, I can understand the passion & respect it. This thing we've got going on is special."

Mets Career: On August 3rd, Winker made his Mets debut going 0-1 as a pinch hitter in a loss in Atlanta. In his next two games he collected hits in win over the Twins at Citi Field. 

From August 7th to August 23rd, Winker collected 14 hits batting .333 with five RBIs & six runs scored hitting safely in ten of 13-games. 

On August 7th, he had his third multi-three hit game of the season. his first as a Mets player in a 5-3 win in Colorado. In the top of the 9th after Francisco Lindor put the Mets ahead, Winker added insurance with an RBI single.

Walk Off HR: On August 21st, with the Mets & Orioles locked in a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 9th at Citi Field, Winker came to bat as a pinch hitter leading off the inning. 

He blasted a walk off HR off Seranthony Dominguez for the 4-3 Mets win. It was the first Mets Walk off pinch-hit HR since Amed Rosario in August 2020.

Three Straight Multi-Hit Games: From August 29th to August 31st, Jesse had three straight multi-hit games, collecting eight hits with two more three hit games. They were his third three hit games as a Mts player & sixth on the season. 

On August 31st, he went back-to-back with Pete Alonso homering off the White Sox Davis Martin in Chicago. He added an RBI single later in the 5-3 Mets win.

Grand Slam HR: On September 4th, Winker hit his fifth career grand slam, coming in the 1st inning off the Red Sox Tanner Houck leading the Mets to their seventh straight win, moving them up in the wild card race.

After collecting two more hits thru September 13th, he went hitless in his last seven games going 0-15 drawing two walks.

On September 27th, in his return to Milwaukee he was greeted with boos by the Brewers fans.

Then at bat, he was drilled in the butt by Frankie Montas. He was upset but claimed a mutual respect for the pitcher stating that's the way to hit someone if you're going to do it. The pitch affected a disc in his lower back causing a minor injury. He did not play in the final four regular season games.

Since joining the Mets Winker hit .243 with 28 hits, three HRs five doubles 12 runs scored & 13
RBIs in 44 games.

Eye Black Designs: Winker began a new Mets tradition of applying different eye black designs to players not starting a game on that day.

2024 Post Season- NLWC: In the series win over his old Brewers teammates, Winker appeared in all three games, stirring up some controversy as well.

Quotes- Jesse Winker: "As far as Milwaukee goes, I'll hate them forever."

In Game #1 with two on in the 2nd inning, Winker tripled off Freddy Peralta giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. 

As he rounded the bases he got into a verbal confrontation with Brewer short stop Willy Adams. Adams told Winker he would meet him in the parking lot after the game. According to a source, Winker did show up but Adams did not.

In the Mets Game #3 series clinching win, he was hit by a pitch in the 5th inning by Tobias Myers
& again hit by a pitch in the 9th inning by Devin Williams. The hit by pitch came one batter after Pete Alonso put the Mets ahead 3-2 with a three run HR. 

Winker then gave it back by sealing second base & scoring on Starling Marte's base hit. When he scored, he threw his helmet to the ground in celebration & for a final goodbye to Milwaukee.

2024 NLDS: In the NLDS win over the Phillies Winker played in two of the four games. In Game #1at Philadelphia, he drew a pair of walks in the 6-2 win. By the time he got to Citi Field, he was cheered & became a fan favorite. He would put in a strig post season performance which only helped his popularity.

NLDS HR: In the Game #3 win at Citi Field, Winker hit a two out solo HR off Aaron Nola in the 4th inning giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. It was his first career post season HR & after crossing home plate he waved to the fans behind home plate. DeJa'Vu from his 2023 wave as a visitor, this time he was greeted with cheers, as all was well with Winker & the Mets fans.

2024 NLCS: In the NLCS loss to the Dodgers, Winker played in five of the six games. He started out collecting hits in each of the first two games at Dodgers Stadium, which had him reaching base safely in five straight post season games.

In the Game #5 Mets 12-5-win, Winker collected two hits & a walk, with a 4th inning RBI triple off Brent Honeywell Jr. bringing in the Mets ninth run. Winker also scored three runs in the game. In the final Game #6 Winker, singled & drew two more walks in the 10-5 loss.

Overall, Winker had a great post season, as he drew seven walks, batted .318 with seven hits, two triples, a HR seven runs scored & four RBIS. He posted a .531 on base 5 & 1.168 OPS.

Career Stats: In his eight-year career, Winke=er is batting .262 with 620 hits 122 doubles 3 triples 95 HRs 344 runs scored & 324 RBIs. He has struck out 511 ties with 356 walks, with 42 hit by pitches. He posted a .367 on base % & .804 OPS.

Rituals: Jesse does Pilates & has a meditation routine where he covers his eyes listening to an app lying down in the outfield in a pregame warmup.

Family: Jesse has a daughter named Wren.