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After undergoing several weeks of movement screens and hitting progressions, New York Mets veteran Jesse Winker is now closing in on a return to game action.
During Tuesday’s pregame press conference, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he is “hopeful” that Winker can begin a minor league rehab assignment by the end of the weekend. The plan is for the lefty-hitting outfielder to start as a designated hitter — a role he platooned in earlier this season.
Carlos Mendoza provides an update on Jesse Winker:
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 24, 2025
"He'll continue to pretty much go through full workouts here. The goal is hopefully he's DHing by the end of the weekend in a minor league rehab assignment" pic.twitter.com/RpsPZL9jbx
Winker, 31, suffered a right oblique strain in the first game of a May 4 doubleheader, which occurred when he made a throw home from left field on a third-inning sacrifice fly. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list earlier Tuesday. The move is retroactive to his initial IL placement, meaning he will be eligible for reinstatement in early July.
The veteran slugger had played just two innings in left field this season prior to his May 4 start, entering as a defensive replacement both times. He had made each of his previous 18 starts as the team’s designated hitter, splitting time in that spot with right-handed hitter Starling Marte.
Through Winker’s first 78 plate appearances in 2025, he hit .239/.321/.418 with one home run and 10 RBIs. He re-signed with the Mets on a one-year, $8 million deal in January after contributing to last year’s second-half postseason run as a trade-deadline pickup.
Jesse Winker runs the bases at Citi Field pic.twitter.com/bQ5sjWS4A1
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) June 23, 2025
Due to the delicate nature of oblique injuries and his lengthy absence, Mendoza said Winker will need more than “just a couple of games” rehabbing in the minor leagues before he is ready to be activated.
Read More: New York Mets sign lefty reliever to major league deal
“When we’re talking about that [oblique] area, we have to watch him closely,” Mendoza said. He emphasized that Winker needs to get plenty of at-bats and did not rule out a return to the outfield later this season, but they will first create a slow progression plan for his buildup as a DH: playing every other day, then back-to-backs, and so on.
In Winker’s absence, the Mets have given Marte, Mark Vientos (also currently on the injured list), and Jared Young the majority of at-bats in the DH spot. Young, the only lefty-swinging player from that trio, is slashing .150/.209/.400 (.609 OPS) since being called up in late May.
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The 'Switch-hitter single-season HR leaders' quiz
Regardless of what happens in October, the summer of 2025 will be remembered as the summer of Cal Raleigh. Raleigh has smashed record after record this season, starting in August when he became the first catcher to hit 50 home runs in one season. On Tuesday – in his MLB-leading 10th multi-home run game of the season – he passed Mickey Mantle for the most home runs by a switch-hitter in a season with his 55th before tying Ken Griffey Jr. for the most home runs by a Mariner on his 56th against the Kansas City Royals. The most recent homers also came in a 12-5 win that marked 10-straight for the surging Mariners, who have finally overtaken the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. Which brings us to today’s quiz. A major league switch-hitter has hit at least 35 home runs on 35 occasions in MLB history. How many of the switch-hitters to reach that milestone can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Raiders' Pete Carroll admits disappointing truth about Ashton Jeanty
The Las Vegas Raiders had high hopes and expectations when they took Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick in this year's draft. It's becoming increasingly rare to see running backs drafted so high, but after watching him post one of the single greatest seasons in college football history, he looked more than worthy of that honor. So far, however, the 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist has looked quite mortal in his first two games in the pros. Ashton Jeanty hasn't gotten off to a fast start in the NFL He logged 38 yards and one score in his NFL debut, and then logged just 43 yards on 11 carries in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. That's why Raiders head coach Pete Carroll had to admit that they needed to take things slowly with Jeanty. While he acknowledged that they hadn't done much to put Jeanty in a position to succeed, he remains optimistic about the RB's prospects. "We're just getting started (with Jeanty)," Carroll told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "He's breaking into the NFL. He's figuring it out. He'll get more carries. We have to run the ball more effectively. We only got (68 yards), and that's not enough. We need more than that. We're bringing (Jeanty) along. More will come." Ashton Jeanty knows he has to do better Jeanty is averaging 2.7 yards per attempt, which is a far cry from his 6.4 yards per carry in college. At least he knows he has to be better, and he believes it's just a matter of time before he gets used to the speed of the pros. "Last week it was on me, I didn't do a good job of reading the plays. I'll put it on myself again this week," Jeanty said. "Just getting used to the speed, honestly. Last week kind of felt like I was moving a little slower, this week felt better. Still not there yet, but once it happens, it will be good." Jeanty continued commenting on the situation on Wednesday. He didn't mince words. Jeanty has posted the fewest rushing yards (81) among players with at least 30 carries, and his next chance to turn the page will come in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders' beatable run defense.
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
Commanders' vacant starting spot sets up fierce clash of youth and experience
The Washington Commanders had been lucking out in the injury department last year and at the start of 2025. That all changed in a hurry after their loss to the Green Bay Packers. On offense, running back Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles, and star quarterback Jayden Daniels is dealing with a knee sprain. On defense, starting defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., who was one of the Commanders' key free agent signings, suffered a season-ending quad tear. Replacing Wise will be a challenge for the Commanders. There's no clear candidate in the fold to take over the starting duties. But the team does have several options, including a surprising new addition. Commanders could run with a committee approach to replace Deatrich Wise Jr. initially After Wise went down, the Commanders were left with 2024 seventh-round pick Javontae Jean-Baptiste and veteran journeyman Jacob Martin as their only additional rostered players at his position. But it didn't take long for that to change. Washington signed Jalyn Holmes from the practice squad and acquired a familiar face in veteran Preston Smith. Smith, a 2015 second-round pick by Washington, had four productive seasons with the organization in which he accumulated 24.5 sacks. He then signed with the Packers, where he enjoyed a career-best 12-sack campaign in 2019 and remained a key contributor until being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before last year's deadline. It's hard to say how much of an impact Smith can make in Washington at this stage of his career, while having to learn a new playbook on the fly. He might not start in Week 3 on such short notice, which would leave either Holmes or Jean-Baptiste to get the nod. The Commanders also have the option of shuffling additional pieces around. Martin could slot over from the opposite side of the line, where he's been backing up Dorance Armstrong Jr. Johnny Newton and Javon Kinlaw could be candidates to see some more snaps on the edge as well. It will be interesting to see how Washington manages the hole left by Wise. It's likely to be a group effort between Smith, Martin, Holmes, Jean-Baptiste, and potentially others against the Las Vegas Raiders at Northwest Stadium. Dan Quinn will have a plan in place, and there is confidence that his scheme can compensate for some personnel deficiencies. Ideally, the Commanders will want someone to lock up the position on a more stable basis eventually, and it's anyone's guess who that will be. The opportunity is there. Somebody will need to make the most of it.
'That's a concern': Steelers' Omar Khan hears something a GM never wants to
The Pittsburgh Steelers went through a big change back in the 2022 offseason. Once the NFL Draft had been completed, the organization searched for its next general manager after Kevin Colbert was set to walk away. The franchise ended up promoting from within and gave the reins to long-time front office member Omar Khan. It's been clear since he got the keys to the kingdom that a physical brand of football would be emphasized, as his three first-round selections as the man in charge have been either on the offensive or defensive lines. While the team has made a conscious decision to build in the trenches, it hasn't panned out just yet. The defense allowed 299 yards rushing to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 Wild Card Round, and the offensive line has not been able to consistently protect the quarterback or help the rushing attack find a consistent groove. Reporter has concerns about the Steelers' player development On Wednesday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted his weekly fan chat. Someone wanted to get the insider's thoughts on both sides of the ball on the line of scrimmage. The reporter did not mince words. "My thoughts are you are right. They want to play a physical brand of football, but they can't because their players are not developing at the rate they had hoped," Fittipaldo wrote. "When Omar was hired as the GM, that was one of his main goals. Get bigger and more physical and be able to maul teams." It didn't stop there for Fittipaldo. He brought Andy Weidl into the equation, who is Khan's partner-in-crime. The lack of development regarding several players has to be something that is leaving the front office uneasy. "I remember a quote from Andy Weidl from a while back about how physical offensive and defensive lines travel well in the playoffs," Fittipaldo noted. "And yet, three years into the new regime, the Steelers don't resemble a physical football team at all. I'm sure that's a concern for the front office." It's one thing to worry internally about a trend, but it's even worse when it's blatantly obvious for the outside world to see. The Steelers' front office simply cannot be happy with how the coaching staff is making it look. Players with promise are being selected, but not turning into the professionals that they should be. Head coach Mike Tomlin is continuously recognized as one of the best coaches in the NFL, but still, somehow, lacks a legitimate coaching tree. There are arguments to be made that he is seriously losing his ability to truly develop the players that are drafted, and the individuals on his staff aren't as qualified as he would like to believe they are. It's currently being seen with the young group that is on the roster in 2025, specifically those who operate in the trenches. There is still time remaining to turn the ship around, but it's fair for fans to start worrying about the franchise's recent drafts. It's hard to blame Khan specifically, or Weidl for that matter, because the coaching staff is in charge of getting young players ready to compete at the professional level. The NFL is played at a completely different speed than college, so Khan's goal of dominating the trenches only ends up working if the draftees are developed and coached the proper way. Steelers' Omar Khan and Andy Weidl not necessarily at fault for losing in the trenches While the goal in recent seasons has been clear from a front office perspective, the vision on the field has not exactly gone according to that plan. The best organizations are on the same page at every level, but something is missing in Pittsburgh right now. The coaching staff is running out of time to get certain young players up to speed, and that is only going to delay the team's ability to compete for a seventh Lombardi Trophy.
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