QUEENS, NY — New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker is feeling as good as a 31-year-old outfielder with nearly a decade’s worth of major-league miles could possibly feel, and it’s showing with his bat speed.
The veteran left-handed designated hitter’s swing speed is up more than five miles an hour, from 69.6 mph last year (18th percentile in MLB) to 74.8 mph, which would rank near the 85th percentile this year.
“I definitely worked on it,” Winker told amNewYork. “You can train that. I also think that it could be a product of me swinging too hard. So there’s a happy-medium with bat speed. I don’t think bat speed’s the end all be all. I think there are other things I try to focus on day to day as a hitter that is more quantifiable than bat speed. But I’m definitely feeling good right now. I think that’s a product of working with [head trainer] Joe Golia as well, with getting my body into a good place.”
Winker had his best game of the season yet on Saturday night at Citi Field, where he went 3-for-4 with two triples — the latter a two-run scoring three-bagger in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game. The Mets went on to win the game 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a Francisco Lindor sacrifice fly.
“Any time you could come up and try to help the team win, that’s what you play for,” Winker said.
His big night suggests that a stronger start in Queens is in the cards this year. He struggled after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Washington Nationals, batting .213 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 44 games with the Mets down the stretch. In the postseason, he slashed .318/.531/.636 with a homer, four RBI, and seven walks.
After a short free-agency stint over the winter, Winker returned to the Mets on a one-year deal, and overcame a calf issue late in spring training.
“It’s kind of hard to be feeling as good as you were when you were 24, 25,” Winker said. “I do feel good, I feel strong, I feel healthy. So that’s encouraging.”
With it, becomes an unfettered approach at the dish.
“I just get up there and give it hell,” he said. “If it’s fast, it’s fast. If it’s slow, I’ll try to figure it out.”
