Jesse Winker has gone from Mets heel to hero in matter of weeks: ‘Dream come true’

CHICAGO — Jesse Winker has received his share of boos joining the Mets, but few if any of them have occurred at Citi Field.

The one-time Mets villain is now everybody else’s foe, with jeers directed at him when the team played on the road in Seattle and San Diego, in particular, in recent weeks.

It’s something his teammates find amusing.

“They boo him everywhere he goes,” Francisco Lindor said Friday before the Mets opened a series against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. “He will probably get booed here.”

The Mets certainly aren’t booing.

Since arriving from the Nationals at the trade deadline , the 31-year-old outfielder has been a steady presence in the team’s five-man outfield rotation.

He delivered an important hit Thursday, when he stroked a ninth-inning double in Arizona that became the go-ahead run in the 3-2 victory in the series rubber game.

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Winker, who started in right field against the White Sox, entered play with a .288/.314/.394 slash line with one homer and six RBIs in 70 plate appearances for the Mets.

“It’s been a dream come true — playing with a lot of guys I have known my whole life and a bunch of new guys that I have known, as well.”

Winker proceeded to list about half the Mets roster when asked about his connections.

Some of his deepest roots are with Lindor from their days playing travel ball together as teenagers in Florida.

It’s that sense of familiarity that has allowed Winker to become one of the guys in a hurry.

“It seems like he’s been here the whole year,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The celebrations, how much he cares, how much he wants it. He’s always prepared. When he’s not in the lineup, he knows his role and I kind of give him a heads-up, and he’s ready all the time.

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“He seems to be enjoying it, and it’s been huge for us — a couple of big hits. You know you are going to get some really good at-bats, and the way he’s been playing the outfield, as well, this is a professional, and he’s always ready.”

As the Mets try to catch Atlanta for the National League’s third wild card (the deficit was three games entering play), it’s unlikely Winker will be overwhelmed by the moment.

His resume includes postseason action with the Reds in 2020 and Brewers in 2023.

“It’s a bunch of great guys on this team and great baseball players,” Winker said. “The vibes are awesome.”

Aside from his double on Thursday to start the winning rally, Winker smashed a walk-off homer to beat the Orioles on the last homestand.

Winker danced as he ran to first base and said he “blacked out” from the excitement.

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For Mendoza, the challenge is finding the right spots for Winker in what has become a crowded scene that also includes Starling Marte, Tyrone Taylor, Harrison Bader and to some degree Jeff McNeil and J.D. Martinez.

“I think I have got really good options,” Mendoza said. “The biggest thing is really the communication with the players, letting them know where I am coming from and what I am thinking. And they have been on board, so you have to give them credit. … But if they are not in the lineup, they know at some point their name is going to get called, and it might be the biggest at-bat of the night.

Does Winker embrace that villainous role?

“I don’t really pay any mind to it. They are fans, and they are paying for tickets and get to react to you as a player any way they want,” Winker said. “I think I could be a little bit better in some personal things in regards to that.”

Winker was booed as an opposing player at Citi Field following several give-and-takes with the fans over the years.

Now the boos seem to rain upon him from everywhere except Queens.

Lindor finds the noise directed toward Winker entertaining.

“On the road, that’s good,” Lindor said. “On the road, that’s funny.”

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