Jesse Winker hears boos as Milwaukee plays in Seattle
The Brewers' Jesse Winker, who struggled in his only season with the Mariners after his All-Star season with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, played in Seattle for the first time since he was traded last December to Milwaukee with Abraham Toro for Kolten Wong and cash.
Some fans at T-Mobile Park booed Winker, who hit .219 with 14 homers in 547 plate appearances last season for the Mariners, when he was introduced Tuesday. He did not play in Monday's series-opener in Seattle.
In his three plate appearances Tuesday night, Winker struck out, popped out and fouled out, lowering his batting average this season to .273.
Winker had been considered day-to-day after he was scratched Sunday from the Brewers' starting lineup with right oblique tightness.
Social media reactions to Winker's night in Seattle:
Jesse Winker gets booed by the Seattle crowd in his first at bat back there since being traded pic.twitter.com/fWe8PcNdv6
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 19, 2023
"WELCOME BACK, JESSE!" yells a fan in front of the press box as Jesse Winker digs in, though I may have misheard him.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) April 19, 2023
Only cowards would boo Jesse Winker upon his return to Seattle.
Remember who took on an entire team to defend Julio.— Ashley Springsteen (@shakeitupbabyy) April 19, 2023
Then, Jesse Winker receives a rancorous welcome from Mariners fans.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) April 19, 2023
The Brewers would like you to know that Jesse Winker is back in the lineup tonight https://t.co/skUu96GtSZ
— Mike Lefko (@MikeLefko) April 18, 2023
In 2021, Winker, a first-round draft pick of the Reds in 2012, hit .305 with 24 homers and 71 RBIs with an OPS of .949. He played for Cincinnati from 2017 until he was traded in March 2022 with Eugenio Suarez to Seattle for a player to be named later (Connor Phillips), Brandon Williamson, Justin Dunn and Jake Fraley.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jesse Winker hears boos as Milwaukee plays in Seattle