Jesse Winker

Jesse Winker (born August 17, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Jesse Winker
Winker in 2019
Cincinnati Reds – No. 33
Outfielder
Born: (1993-08-17) August 17, 1993
Buffalo, New York
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 14, 2017, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through August 12, 2019)
Batting average.284
Home runs30
Runs batted in96
Teams

Career

Winker was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Niagara Falls, New York, before moving to Orlando, Florida at the age of seven.[1] Winker was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round (49th overall) of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft out of Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida.[2] As a junior at Olympia, he had a .509 batting average.[3] He had committed to play college baseball at the University of Florida for the Florida Gators,[4] but chose to sign with the Reds rather than attend college.

Winker made his professional debut for the Billings Mustangs in 2012.[5] In 62 games, he hit .338/.443/.500 with five home runs in 228 at-bats. Prior to the 2013 season, Winker was ranked by Baseball America as the Reds sixth best prospect.[6] He played the season with the Dayton Dragons[7][8] where he became a Midwest League All-Star and Home Run Derby champion.[9] He hit .281/.379/.463 with 16 home runs in 417 at bats over 112 games.

Before the 2014 season, he was ranked by Baseball America as the Reds fourth best prospect.[10] He started the season with the Bakersfield Blaze. In June he was promoted to the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.[11] In July, Winker played in the All-Star Futures Game, going 1-2.[12][13] His season came to an end in July after suffering a partially torn tendon in his right wrist in a car accident.[14] In 74 games, he hit .287/.399/.518 with 15 home runs and 57 runs batted in (RBI). Winker returned after the season to play in the Arizona Fall League.[15] Winker spent 2015 with Pensacola, where he posted a .282 batting average with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs.[16]

The Reds added Winker to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.[17] He began the 2017 season with the Louisville Bats of the Class AAA International League,[18] and was promoted to the major leagues on April 14.[19]. In 2017, Winker batted .298 with seven home runs in 47 games played. Winker began 2018 with Cincinnati, and was a starting outfielder before a right shoulder injury in July ended his season.[20] Prior to his injury, he slashed .299/.405/.431 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs.[21]

References
  1. Moritz, Amy (July 28, 2017). "WNYer Jesse Winker, a Reds prospect, enjoys homecoming at Coca-Cola Field". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  2. "Reds take pair of potential run-producing OFs". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  3. Romine, Brentley (February 12, 2012). "Baseball season preview: Olympia seniors focused amid draft talk". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  4. "Jesse Winker Class of 2012 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA".
  5. "Former Olympia outfielder finds way in Montana with Reds' minor-league team". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. July 31, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  6. J.J. Cooper (January 9, 2013). "2013 Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  7. Katz, Marc. "Winker at 19, a boy looking to be a big leaguer". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  8. "Reds prospect Winker has swing that sings". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  9. "Jesse Winker among 20 Greatest Dragons". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. "2014 Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  11. "Reds prospect Jesse Winker compared to Jay Bruce". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  12. "Reds' Robert Stephenson, Jesse Winker hope to build on Futures Game". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  13. Vilona, Bill (July 13, 2014). "Blue Wahoos players create memories in Futures Game win". pnj.com. Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  14. Rosecrans, C. Trent (July 26, 2014). "Car wreck likely to end Reds prospect's season". cincinnati.com. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  15. "Reds' Winker looks good in return to diamond". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  16. "Jesse Winker Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  17. "Jesse Winker among 7 protected from Rule 5 draft". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  18. Staff, WCPO (March 24, 2017). "Reds option OF prospect Jesse Winker to AAA Louisville". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  19. Dykstra, Sam (April 14, 2017). "Reds calling up Winker for big league debut: No. 63 overall prospect went 10-for-31 in eight games at Triple-A". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  20. Baer, Bill (July 26, 2018). "Jesse Winker to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery". mlb.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  21. "Jesse Winker Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.