Jesse Winker first became famous among Mets fans in 2019 when he waved to the Citi Field crowd after hitting a key home run off Edwin Diaz and then making a sliding catch that sealed a Reds win, and was booed multiple times.
He did the same thing Wednesday night, but this time fans didn't mind, because Winker, acquired from Washington at the trade deadline, did the same thing after hitting a grand slam in the top of the first inning of an 8-3 win over the Red Sox.
With the Mets leading 4-0, Winker returned to the dugout, smiled and waved to the crowd behind home plate.
But then he focused on why he came to the Mets in the first place.
“I just want to do my part,” Winker said. “I feel like every game here has a playoff feel to it because they mean so much to us.”
And that translates to the fans.
“It's unbelievable,” Winker said, “the energy that comes out of the stadium every night is like nothing else.”
He's seen it from both sides now.
“I'm not out on the field to interact with the fans,” Winker said before the game. “Have I ever done that in my career? Yes, but I'm out here to help my team win.”
On Wednesday, he hit his 14th home run of the season, then walked and scored a run.
And he'd like to experience October at Citi Field, and has his own perspective on why that would be beneficial for the Mets.
September 4, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“When I played for other teams I would goof around with the fans, but I know how hard it is to come here and win games,” Winker said. “It's really awesome to have their support and be a part of the Mets. They're passionate and they care about their team. I'm grateful to be here.”
Winker has posted a .772 OPS since joining the Mets and had a .793 OPS earlier this season with the Nationals, but has struggled at Citi Field this season.
He had a .569 OPS at Citi Field as of Wednesday, the lowest mark of any ballpark in which he had more than three at-bats during the 2024 season.
But the team has been doing well lately, especially as Winker continues to get more at-bats against right-handed pitching. He expects more late innings and the same from the fans who once tormented him.
“They definitely impact the game,” Winker said. “They're on every pitch and they're paying attention. It's definitely a tough place to come and play. It's windy, it starts to get cooler, it might rain. On top of that, there's 40,000 rowdy people. It's fun. It's just rowdy here. It's cool.”
“I've been to the playoffs and every player dreams of getting there,” said Winker, who appeared in the National League Series with the Reds in 2020 and Milwaukee last year, losing both games in two games. “After I got traded here, I just wanted to get back.”
