After looking like he was on his way out of the league, Washington Nationals outfielder Jesse Winker has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball to begin the 2024 season.
An All-Star in 2021 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Winker had slashed .288/.385/.504 with 66 home runs and 190 RBI during his five-year tenure with the Reds.
After being traded to the Seattle Mariners before the 2022 season, he was downright terrible for the Mariners and eventually the Milwaukee Brewers the past two seasons.
The 30-year-old slashed .214/.337/.318 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI in 197 games played from 2022-23.
After his struggles, Winker agreed to a minor-league contract with the Nationals in February hoping to prove he still had what it took to play in the majors.
Earning a spot on the big league roster after a good spring, Winker is providing instant offense out of the gates this season.
In 16 games this season, he is slashing .373/.500/.608 with six doubles, two home runs, five RBI and two stolen bases while getting most of his playing time in left field. He’s also shown a good eye at the plate, walking nine times.