Cincinnati Reds: Top three candidates to bat leadoff in 2020

3. Jesse Winker, Outfielder

Don’t sleep on Jesse Winker occupying the leadoff spot for the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day against the St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old outfielder has struggled to stay healthy over the past two seasons, playing only 113 games last season and just 89 in 2018. However, Winker is better than most fans give him credit for.

Winker’s career-OBP is .379. That’ll play all day long. The Buffalo native showcased some of his power last season as well, hitting 16 home runs. Winker’s problems came against left-handed pitchers, as the left-handed hitting slugger hit just .163 off southpaws in 2019. Winker’s struggles against lefties cost him playing time, as David Bell often subbed Phillip Ervin when a lefty was on the mound.

I would venture to say that we’ll see a similar approach from Bell this season until Winker proves the skeptics wrong. Given the plethora of outfield talent on the Reds roster, that wouldn’t be a bad approach. Whether it’s Ervin, Aristides Aquino or Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati has plenty of right-handed bats capable of playing the outfield.

Winker may be on a short leash this season. His career-OPS of .845 suggests that Winker could be a force in the Reds lineup, but his lack of success against left-handed pitching and an inability to stay on the field raises questions about his future with the club. Spring training may not be of greater importance to anyone on the Reds roster.

With the additions of Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos, both of whom are likely to play early and often in the outfield, Jesse Winker has to prove that he too can contribute. Winker is a long shot to be the Reds leadoff hitter on Opening Day, but the possibility exists. If Winker balls out during Cactus League play, he has a chance to earn the top spot in the Reds batting order.