Inside The Mets

New York Mets lose slugger Jesse Winker to new injury

The New York Mets lost slugging outfielder/DH Jesse Winker to a new injury on Thursday in their doubleheader with the Orioles.
Pat Ragazzo|
May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker (3) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a sacrifice fly to left, scoring teammate Juan Soto (not shown) against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images
May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker (3) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a sacrifice fly to left, scoring teammate Juan Soto (not shown) against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images | Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

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New York MetsBaltimore Orioles

Just when the New York Mets were beginning to get healthy.

Outfielder/DH Jesse Winker exited Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles with what the Mets are calling back tightness.

Winker received just one at-bat in which he flied out in the first inning before Mark Vientos pinch-hit for him in the top of the fourth inning. Winker appeared to wince in pain after running out his fly out.

Winker was activated from the injured list on Tuesday after missing over two months with an oblique strain. However, the left-handed hitter had just three total at-bats before re-injuring himself in big-league game action.

Read More: New York Mets activate Jesse Winker, place another key slugger on IL

The injury to Winker could not have come at a worse time for the Mets given that they placed fellow outfielder/DH Starling Marte on the IL on Tuesday with a knee bruise.

The Mets will now likely be down both of their DH platoon options heading into the All-Star break later in the week. In the meantime, Vientos could fill-in as DH with Marte sidelined and if Winker is forced to miss time.

Winker, 31, has played in a mere 26 games this season, where he has slashed .229/.309/.400 with a .709 OPS, one home run and 10 RBI. The Mets acquired Winker from the Washington Nationals at the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline. New York re-signed Winker to a one-year, $7.5 million deal in the offseason but injuries have derailed his first full season in Queens thus far.

As Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters after Game 1 of the team's doubleheader, Winker is headed to New York for an MRI after his back locked up in his first at-bat. A trip back to the IL is on the table as a possibility.

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Pat Ragazzo
PAT RAGAZZO

Pat Ragazzo is the main publisher and reporter for the Mets On SI site. He has been covering the Mets since 2018. Pat was selected as The Top Reporter & Publisher of the Year 2024 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. He has appeared on several major TV Networks including: NBC4, CBS2, FOX5, PIX11 and NY1; and is a recurring guest on ESPN New York 880 AM and WFAN Sports Radio 101.9 FM. Pat is also the Mets insider for Barstool Sports personality Frank "The Tank" Fleming’s podcast. You can follow him on Twitter/X and Instagram: @ragazzoreport.

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