Jesse Winker

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #5 prospect in 2018
  Winker was the best hitter in every lineup he appeared until he played with Joey Votto. He has hit at every level, including at Triple-A Louisville, where he started for the second straight season in 2017. The Reds called him up three separate times, and he performed in the big leagues just as he had in the minors. Scouts don't question Winker's ability to hit, but as a corner outfielder, his power potential has long been questioned by scouts. He can put on a batting practice show and won the Midwest League all-star game home run derby several years ago, but his game power was lacking until he reached the big leagues. Winker hit seven home runs in 121 at-bats--or as many as he hit in the minors in 2016-17 combined. Winker has had a series of wrist injuries that did play a part in his limited power production–he broke his wrist diving for a ball in 2015 and the injury also affected him in 2016. Opinions on his fielding ability range from below-average to average in either corner outfield spot. Few players benefit from Great American Ball Park and its small outfield dimensions as much as Winker. It helps boost his potentially average power and aid his defense. General manager Dick Williams has already said Winker has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. At the very least, he will be a member of a big-league outfield rotation in 2018.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #6 prospect in 2017
  Winker always has been one of the most advanced hitters in his age group. He was a key member of USA Baseball's 18U team in 2011 and as a pro he has hit .296 in more than 2,000 plate appearances. But wrist injuries have sabotaged his 2015-16 seasons, leading to an evaporation of his power production and questions about his ability to profile in left field. Winker broke his wrist in 2015 diving for a ball in the outfield and missed time in 2016 with a sprained wrist. Most scouts believe Winker will hit for average. He uses the whole field, but his natural lefthanded swing path carries the ball to left-center field and produces more singles than doubles. Winker controls the strike zone, which has contributed to a .398 career on-base percentage. What he doesn't show is power in games, even though he hits for plus power in batting practice. Scouts project him to have average power (about 15 home runs), which combined with his on-base ability could make him an above-average offensive player. Defensively, he's a fringe-average left fielder with an accurate but fringy arm and below-average speed. Scouts who have seen Winker since high school are disappointed he hasn't seemed to get any stronger, but he can really hit. He should make his big league debut at some point in 2017.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #5 prospect in 2016
  The best pure hitter in the Reds system since the day he signed, Winker struggled in a brief promotion to Double-A Pensacola in 2014 before his season was cut short by a broken wrist. Two months into the 2015 season, he was still struggling to drive the ball, but he hit .316/.426/.516 in the second half and connected for 11 of his 13 homers after June 1. Winker always has had an advanced approach with a balanced batting stance. He has a very simple toe-tap timing mechanism, quick hands and a quiet setup. He uses his legs well in his swing but has a very small load, trusting his hands and bat speed to provide his power. At his best, Winker drives the ball the opposite way to pepper the left-field wall, and he hits the ball out to all fields. He struggled against lefthanders in 2015 but has hit them well over his career. Defensively, Winker has worked hard to become playable in the outfield, but he's limited by below-average speed. His fringe-average arm plays in left field, where he recorded 15 assists. Scouts who like Winker believe he's an above-average hitter who should provide on-base value and solid-average power that will play up in Great American Ballpark. Others don't believe he has the power to profile as an impact regular. He should make his Triple-A debut in 2016.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #3 prospect in 2015
  The Reds' best pure hitter to come through the system since Jay Bruce, Winker produced at high Class A Bakersfield, and seemed set to build on that after a midseason promotion to Double-A Pensacola. But he injured his wrist diving for a flyball just 21 games into his time in the Southern League. He returned in time to play in the Arizona Fall League. Winker's advanced approach at the plate is the foundation of his success. He understands the strike zone very well, knows how to draw a walk and understands how to look for a certain pitch in a certain zone when he gets into a hitter's count. His swing is simple and geared for hitting for average. Winker has plus raw power, something that's apparent whenever he enters a home run derby, but when the games count, his swing is geared for line-drive doubles to the alleys. He projects as an above-average hitter with average power, but if he wanted to change his approach, he could boost his home run numbers at the expense of his average and on-base percentage. Winker is a below-average runner, but he's shown steady improvement on defense to become a steady, if less-than-rangy, left fielder. Winker will get to catch up for lost time in Pensacola in 2015. He is the team's long-term answer to its troublesome left-field position, but he's not ready to take over just yet. Did not play
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #4 prospect in 2014
  Winker joined his older brother Joey, who plays in the Dodgers organization, in the low Class A Midwest League this season. The Winkers helped add to a recent run for the baseball program at Olympia High, the Orlando school that also produced Mariners shortstop Brad Miller, Yankees outfield prospect Mason Williams and Padres righthander Walker Wieckel. Winker pitched and played center field for Olympia as it won 29 straight at in his senior season, then signed for $1 million. Winker is a pure hitter with a short, simple stroke. He's toned down what was once a picturesque, one-handed, high finish to a more conventional two-handed finish. He projects as a potential plus hitter with plus power. Winker works counts into his favor and uses the whole field. He pulled 10 of his 16 home runs, but hit four the other way and two to straight center field. His modest athleticism, below-average speed, range and arm strength limits him to left field defensively and he projects as likely below-average there. In a different organization, Winker would potentially end up as a first baseman, but with Joey Votto in Cincinnati, he'll stay in left. Scouts are sold on Winker's hitting ability but question about how athletic he'll be by the time he reaches the big leagues. He's ready for the offensive environment of high Class A Bakersfield.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #7 prospect in 2013
  When he was a sophomore, Winker watched Olympia High (Orlando) teammate Mason Williams hit his way to a $1.45 million signing bonus as a fourth-round pick. Two years later, Winker and righthander Walker Weickel gave Olympia a pair of 2012 supplemental first-round picks. After signing for $1 million, Winker led the Pioneer League in on-base percentage (.443) and ranked third in hitting (.338) and OPS (.993). Winker has a sweet lefthanded swing and keeps his bat in the hitting zone for a long time. He's an extremely disciplined hitter who isn't afraid to work counts, though he'll have to cut down his strikeouts as he advances. His stroke generates natural loft that could produce 20 homers annually as he adds further muscle. He has strong legs that he uses well in his swing. Reds coaches compare his stroke to Jay Bruce's, though Winker isn't nearly as athletic. He's a below-average runner now and will get slower as he fills out. He's most likely a left fielder in the long term, though he has enough arm to handle right. Following a fabulous pro debut, Winker is more than ready to move up for low Class A. His big league future depends on his bat, but it looks like it will be up to the challenge. He's a potential No. 3 hitter in a contender's lineup.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #105 prospect in 2012 draft
  Scouts like to call players like Winker "famous" because he's been seen a lot. He is a showcase veteran who played for USA Baseball's 18-and-under team last summer and fall, tossing a shutout against Aruba. He also has played at high-profile Olympia High and was a teammate of Yankees prospect Mason Williams in 2010 and the last three years with righthander Walker Weickel, who is expected to go in the first two rounds. Winker helped lift Olympia to a tremendous spring, though it fell in the playoffs after winning its first 29 games. Winker is a lefthanded hitter and thrower who plays center field in high school but will be a corner outfielder or first baseman down the line because of modest athleticism. While he's a fine hitter with good balance and loft in his swing, that profile puts his bat at a premium, and Winker had just three home runs this spring. He's physical and has strength that allows him to drive the ball to all fields, and scouts have seen him hit good velocity in showcases. They laud his makeup and work ethic. Signability was a major question mark for the Florida recruit.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #18 prospect in 2015
  Winker injured his wrist while diving for a ball during a 21-game run at Pensacola in 2014, and he spent the final month and a half of that season on the disabled list. He recovered to hit .338 and win the Arizona Fall League batting title last November, but he certainly appeared rusty in the first half of 2015 back in the SL. Winker hit just .229 with two home runs in April in May before flipping the switch to bat .310/.414/.497 with 11 homers from June 1 to the end of the season. Through thick and thin, he worked his way into hitter's counts and maintained his trademark plate discipline by compiling nearly as many walks as strikeouts. In fact, Winker's 74 walks ranked fourth in the SL, and his .390 on-base percentage ranked fifth. While Winker has a chance to be a plus hitter and steady on-base source, he does have his limitations. He can turn on a fastball and drive the ball to all fields with a direct-to-the-ball, lefthanded stroke, but he doesn't have great bat speed, and scouts project his home-run production to be average or slightly above. He's a mediocre defender on both outfielder corners with an arm that probably fits best in left field or at first base. He must improve his production versus southpaws to be considered for an everyday role, but at worst he'll get a look as a platoon outfielder
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  Ranked California League #12 prospect in 2014
  Injuries plagued Winker's year. He missed a couple weeks in April and May with a concussion after running into an outfield wall in Modesto. Later, after being promoted to Double-A in July, he partially tore a tendon in his right wrist after being involved in a car accident. That injury ended his season, though he initially tried to play through it before being diagnosed. When healthy, Winker showed plenty of tools at the plate. He's an intelligent hitter with a good feel for the barrel, spraying balls hard to all fields. He has nice loft to his swing, though some scouts worried it's a bit long. More of his home-run power goes to his pull side--and he could get pull-conscious at times--but he has enough pop to take balls out the other way. He also maintains a disciplined approach, producing a nearly 1-1 strikeout-walk rate in the Cal League. Bakersfield manager Pat Kelly felt Winker's biggest strides were on defense. He's a below-average runner, so it's important that his angles and jumps improved as he learned to get better reads off the bat. He has a solid arm, but he's best suited for left field.
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  Ranked Midwest League #9 prospect in 2013
  Few MWL observers doubt that Winker will hit. He combines a simple swing with advanced pitch recognition that allows him to generally work pitchers into advantageous counts. He won the all-star game home run derby with a power display, but generally he prefers to line balls to the opposite field. Winker projects as an above-average hitter with above-average power. He?ll need to meet those projections because he?s a left fielder with a fringe-average arm. He already is a below-average runner and projects to slow down further as he matures. Winker?s solid jumps and good reads allow him to be an average left fielder for now, but he?ll have to continue working on his conditioning to make sure he doesn?t lose too much range as he matures.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #5 prospect in 2012
  Yet another teenager making an impressive debut in the Pioneer League, Winker led the circuit with a .443 on-base percentage. One of two Olympia HS (Orlando) players drafted in the sandwich round in June--Padres righthander Walker Weickel was the other--Winker went 49th overall and signed for $1 million. Winker's bat is his best tool. He has an advanced feel for hitting and plate discipline. More of a line-drive hitter right now, he has loft in his swing that eventually should produce 20 or more homers on an annual basis. An average runner, Winker profiles as a corner outfielder who most likely fits in left field because of his fringy arm strength. He needs to work on getting better reads and angles on balls, but he has the potential to become an average defender

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #98 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #51 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #47 prospect in 2015

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Winker was the best hitter in every lineup he appeared until he played with Joey Votto. He has hit at every level, including at Triple-A Louisville, where he started for the second straight season in 2017. The Reds called him up three separate times, and he performed in the big leagues just as he had in the minors. Scouting Report: Scouts don't question Winker's ability to hit, but as a corner outfielder, his power potential has come into question. He can put on a batting practice show, but his game power was lacking until he reached the big leagues. Winker hit seven home runs in 121 at-bats--or as many as he hit in the minors in 2016-17 combined. Opinions on his fielding ability range from below-average to average in either corner outfield spot. Few players benefit from Great American Ball Park and its small outfield dimensions as much as Winker. It helps boost his potentially average power and aid his defense. The Future: General manager Dick Williams has already said Winker has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. At the very least, he will be a member of a big league outfield rotation in 2018.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Winker was a key member of USA Baseball's 18U team in 2011 and as a pro he has hit .296 in more than 2,000 plate appearances. But wrist injuries have sabotaged his 2015-16 seasons, leading to an evaporation of his power production and questions about his ability to profile in left field. Winker broke his wrist in 2015 diving for a ball in the outfield and missed time in 2016 with a sprained wrist. Scouting Report: Most scouts believe Winker will hit for average. He uses the whole field, but his natural lefthanded swing path carries the ball to left-center field and produces more singles than doubles. Winker controls the strike zone, which has contributed to a .398 career on-base percentage. What he doesn't show is power in games--even though he hits for plus power in batting practice. Scouts project him to have average power (about 15 home runs), which, combined with his on-base ability, could make him an above-average offensive player. Defensively, he's a fringe-average left fielder with an accurate but fringy arm and below-average speed.
  
  The Future: Scouts who have seen Winker since high school are disappointed he hasn't seemed to get any stronger--but he can really hit. He should make his big league debut at some point in 2017.
• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: When he was a sophomore, Winker watched Olympia High (Orlando) teammate Mason Williams hit his way to a $1.45 million signing bonus as a fourth-round pick. Two years later, Winker and righthander Walker Weickel gave Olympia a pair of 2012 supplemental first-round picks. After signing for $1 million, Winker led the Pioneer League in on-base percentage (.443) and ranked third in hitting (.338) and OPS (.993). Scouting Report: Winker has a sweet lefthanded swing and keeps his bat in the hitting zone for a long time. He's an extremely disciplined hitter who isn't afraid to work counts, though he'll have to cut down his strikeouts as he advances. His stroke generates natural loft that could produce 20 homers annually as he adds further muscle. He has strong legs that he uses well in his swing. Reds coaches compare his stroke to Jay Bruce's, though Winker isn't nearly as athletic. He's a below-average runner now and will get slower as he fills out. He's most likely a left fielder in the long term, though he has enough arm to handle right. The Future: Following a fabulous pro debut, Winker is more than ready to move up for low Class A. His big league future depends on his bat, but it looks like it will be up to the challenge. He's a potential No. 3 hitter in a contender's lineup.