The New York Mets are getting hit with a dose of reality after a remarkable surge to start the season.
The team has dropped back-back-series after losing two in a row to the St. Louis Cardinals this past weekend and the injuries have been piling up. After opening the season without starters Frankie Montas or Sean Manaea, the team was left without a left-handed reliever when AJ Minter and Danny Young both went down.
And now they’ve lost key slugger Jesse Winker for a considerable stretch as well.
“The veteran outfielder departed Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Cardinals with right side discomfort from attempting to throw out a runner at the plate,” Mike Puma reported for the New York Post. “...manager Carlos Mendoza said the expectation is Winker will be placed on the injured list before Monday’s game in Arizona.”
When asked after the game whether the injury was causing him “any level of pain,” Winker offered a clear and simple one-word response: “Yeah.”
“I’m going to wait and see what that may look like,” Winker added on the likely duration of his absence from the team. “I don’t have an answer for you on that, but anytime you’re not playing, it sucks.”
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Winker was a critical midseason addition for the Mets in 2024 as he offered a big bat during the team’s run to the National League Championship Series. He agreed to return to the team on a $7.5 million, single-year contract.
So far in 2025, Winker is slashing .239/.321/.418 with one homer and 10 RBI. The Mets might turn to Brett Baty as a replacement, though he’s been dealing with a toe injury.
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