Time To Buy Stock In Jesse Winker For 2023
In today's issue, one IBWAA member outlines Jesse Winker's recent on-field ups and downs and why he's due for an upward swing this year with the Brewers.
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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
. . . Jesse Winker didn’t have an outstanding offensive season with the Seattle Mariners in 2022, but he was at the center of one of their most entertaining storylines. On June 26, Winker was hit in the back by a pitch from the Los Angeles Angels’ Andrew Wantz, shortly after Seattle star Julio Rodríguez had a ball thrown near his head. A massive benches-clearing brawl ensued that delayed on-field play for approximately 17 minutes, during which Winker was thrown out of the game. However, his role in this story had only just begun . . .
. . . After Winker was ejected, a Mariners fan living in Arkansas took pity on Winker and ordered him a pizza from a nearby shop in Anaheim, with specific instructions for it to be delivered to the visitors clubhouse at Angel Stadium. Improbably, Winker actually did receive the pizza during the game, and later DMed that fan thanking her for her efforts. The delivery driver ended up getting tips from hundreds of Mariners fans applauding him for his determination in getting the pizza past the security gates.
Leading Off
Why I’m Buying Into Jesse Winker In 2023
By Eric Katz
After having a career year in 2021, Jesse Winker had a rough 2022 season. It was a season that saw him riddled with injuries and have career lows in many offensive categories. He also had a career high in strikeouts with 103 while only hitting 14 home runs. This offseason, the Seattle Mariners shipped him along with Abraham Toro to the Milwaukee Brewers for Kolten Wong. Given his success in his career in Milwaukee and how the stadium favors lefties, I believe he’ll bounce back this season.
Winker had many career highs during the 2021 season in which he was selected for his first career All-Star Game, hit .305, notched a .949 OPS, and hit 24 home runs (though he played in only 110 games due to injury). During that offseason, Winker was a part of the Reds’ fire sale and was traded to the Mariners. Despite being projected to pick up right where he left off, Winker’s 2022 season was a disaster. He only slashed .219/.344/.344 for the Mariners in 136 games. However, Winker was playing through both meniscus and neck injuries all season. Both injuries required him to get surgery this offseason.
Winker has never been known for durability, but it’s tough for anybody to be productive with one injury, much less two. After receiving the surgery, Winker has been raving about how much it has helped him. While it’s still unknown whether he’ll have a healthy season, there is reason to be optimistic. The Brewers are certainly counting on him to bounce back and jumpstart their slumping offense.
This new chapter with Milwaukee is perfect for Winker, given his success in his career playing at American Family Field. He’s also slated to be a free agent after this season, and a big rebound year could parlay into a good payday. Over his career playing in Milwaukee, Winker has slashed .344/.440/.591 in 109 career plate appearances. Something else that works in his favor is that American Family Field is considered a great power alley for left-handed hitters. It is the fifth-best home run park for lefties. By comparison, Seattle’s T-Mobile Park is 14 spots behind American Family Field in favoring left-handed power hitters.
The stage is now set for Winker to get back to All-Star form. He’ll be playing in a ballpark where he’s had a lot of success during his career. He’s also eligible for free agency for the first time in his career. With it being a contract year for him, this is another reason he’ll rebound in 2023.
Eric Katz is a lifelong avid Yankees fan and covers them and various everything related to baseball at bellyupsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Sportsteamnews.