Jesse Winker honored to represent Orlando in MLB All-Star Game

Jesse Winker, the former Olympia High standout now flexing his power for the Cincinnati Reds, was more than thrilled to learn he will make his first appearance in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game next week.

Winker, 27, shed some tears when he was interviewed by media after a home win against Milwaukee last Thursday — the day All-Star voting was finalized. He was selected as a starting outfielder for the National League for Tuesday night’s showcase game at Coors Field in Colorado.

“I never thought this could happen for me,” Winker said. “I’m very thankful. Thank you, everybody. It means a lot to me. There’s been a lot of people before me that have been named All-Stars and to get to fall in line and get to go, it’s a huge honor for me. And I know I’m crying again, but it’s a dream come true.

“There’s a lot of people I need to sit up here and thank, but we’d probably be here for the next hour. I really want to thank my teammates and my family and my little girl at home, my daughter.”

Going into a Tuesday night game at Kansas City, Winker was batting .306 and had already set career bests for home runs with 19 and RBI with 49.

He is in his fifth season with Cincinnati, which made him the 49th pick in the 2012 MLB Draft out of high school.

DeLeon Springs native Jacob deGrom, who held a historic 0.95 ERA entering this week, was picked to the NL team but is unlikely to pitch in the All-Star Game. That’s because is scheduled to start for the New York Mets on Sunday against Pittsburgh in a road game two days before the showcase.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner, who had a 7-2 record going into a scheduled Tuesday night start vs. Milwaukee, played high school ball for Ormond Beach Calvary Christian and stayed close to home to play college baseball for Stetson. He was an infielder as a freshman and sophomore for the Hatters before splitting time between shortstop and the mound as a junior in 2010.

Bo Bichette, the 23-year-old son of four-time All-Star Dante Bichette and younger brother of former Orangewood Christian standout Dante Bichette Jr., made the AL team as a reserve shortstop. Bo, who played high school baseball for St. Petersburg Lakewood, led the Majors in runs scored with 68 through July 4 for the Toronto Blue Jays.

This story was first published at OrlandoSentinel.com. Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.