Winker Heads to IL With Oblique Strain, Lefty Pop on Pause
The Mets placed Jesse Winker on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right oblique strain that manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed is a Grade 2. He’s expected to miss 6–8 weeks.
Jesse Winker will be on the shelf for a while pic.twitter.com/QbItMUjL4y
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 5, 2025
The injury came during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Cardinals—the first time Winker played left field this season. He caught a fly ball in the third inning and fired home, gunning down Nolan Arenado at third. But after the sharp throw, Winker stated he felt something on his right side.
Jesse Winker says he felt something amiss in his side when he threw the ball home in the third inning today pic.twitter.com/7T3DluzPj2
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 5, 2025
Jesse—known to be tough as nails—must’ve known it wasn’t “nothing” immediately as he exited the game after marking the throw. He then left for New York for imaging as the Mets traveled to Arizona.
“Anytime you’re not playing, it sucks,” he said postgame.
“Anytime you’re not playing, it sucks.”
Jesse Winker was asked about the possibility of missing time with his injury: pic.twitter.com/VWWXo05ZnC
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 5, 2025
Winker, a platoon DH/Left fielder, was hitting .239/.321/.418 with a .739 OPS across 67 at-bats, including one home run, 10 RBI, and eight extra-base hits. More importantly, his swing was trending up.
Since spring training, I’ve observed that he’s been fine-tuning his BP sessions, zoning in on really driving the ball to the opposite field with intent. He’d been working counts since the start of the season in every plate appearance, showing better control in the box than most in the league.
Jesse Winker increased his bat speed from 69.6 mph to 73.6 mph this year (+4).
That’s the largest jump of any player in MLB. He’s sacrificing more swing & miss for damage!
5-for-20 this yr, .848 OPS, 2 triples…pic.twitter.com/gx5MXcYdGA
— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) April 7, 2025
Nobody Works a Count Like Winker
After arriving in Queens last July, Winker’s been exactly what this Mets team needed: a consistent on-base threat with veteran poise, unshakable zone awareness, and a clubhouse presence that keeps things steady. The process is best in class even when the results aren’t loud.
Vibes immediately plummeted https://t.co/TqGcyPL8v0
— Gab (@gabrielleraucci) May 6, 2025
Recharged, Refined, Ready for Second Half
This isn’t just a loss on the lineup card—it’s a pause in momentum. Winker was finding his stride, and the timing hurts. But, it’s a long year, and the Mets know exactly what they’ll be getting back in six to eight weeks: a pro’s pro with the patience, power, and personality that truly make this team better.
And with time to recover, Winker’s return could mean big at-bats when they count most.
The New York Mets are calling up Brett Baty to the majors. pic.twitter.com/u03SngWdil
— Milb Central (@milb_central) May 5, 2025
In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled Brett Baty from Triple-A Syracuse.
