Jesse Winker (OF, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 17% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Let’s play a round of Guess That Player. Here are the first two clues: I am a Cincinnati Reds player who has a top-five on-base percentage in baseball. At this point there is only one answer that comes to mind; it has to be Joey Votto. But now for the final clue: I am just 17% owned in fantasy. Much more difficult, but the answer is 24-year-old outfielder Jesse Winker, who has shown elite plate discipline so far this season and could help your team for the second half of fantasy.

Winker is currently ranked fourth in baseball in OBP (.406), right behind his teammate Joey Votto. He has hit an impressive .294 in his first full big league season, but what has been even more impressive is his 15.3% walk rate, which is good for 10th-highest in baseball. He also only strikes out 13.7% of the time. Winker’s great eye benefits fantasy teams in both points leagues (low strikeouts, high walks) and categories leagues that value batting average or OBP.

Winker doesn’t hit for much power (.431 slugging percentage) and doesn’t have much speed, but he gets on base a ton, giving him plenty of opportunities to score (34 runs) in a strong Reds’ lineup that is tied for the sixth-most RBI in baseball. He has the eye and plate discipline to be an elite hitter, and such high upside is worth a roster spot for fantasy players looking for a solid finish to their seasons.