Jesse Winker waves to Mets fans after big grand slam: ‘energy’ is unmatched

Jesse Winker first made a name for himself with Mets fans in 2019, when he waved to Citi Field fans after a key homer off Edwin Diaz and again after a sliding catch that sealed a win for the Reds — leading to several choruses of boos.

He pulled a similar move Wednesday night — although this time, the fans didn’t mind, as Winker, a trade deadline acquisition from Washington, did it after a first-inning grand slam in an 8-3 win over the Red Sox.

As Winker headed back to the dugout with the Mets up 4-0, he smiled and waved to the crowd behind the plate.

Afterward, though, his focus was on what brought him to the Mets in the first place.

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“You just want to do your part,” Winker said. “I feel like every game I’ve been here has had a playoff vibe because they’re so meaningful to us.”

And that’s carried over to the fans.

“It’s incredible,” Winker said. “The energy in our stadium every night is unmatched.”

He’s now seen it from both sides.

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“I don’t go on the field to have fan interactions,” Winker said before the game. “Have they happened in my career? Yes. But I came here to help the team win.”

On Wednesday, he walked and scored after hitting his 14th homer of the season.

And he’s hoping to experience October at Citi Field, where he has a unique perspective of why it could be an advantage for the Mets.

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“I’ve been playful with the fans when I’ve been here with other teams, but I know how tough it is to come in here and win a game,” Winker said. “Definitely, having their support and being on the Mets has been amazing.They’re passionate and care about the team and I’m thankful to here.”

While Winker has been solid as a Met, with a .772 OPS since his arrival compared to a .793 OPS with the Nationals earlier in the season, he’s struggled at Citi Field this season.

He entered Wednesday with a .569 OPS at Citi Field, his lowest number of any park he’s had more than three plate appearances in during the 2024 season.

But the team has played well, especially of late, and Winker has continued to get at-bats against right-handers. He’s looking for more down the stretch — and expects the same from the fans that once gave him a hard time.

“They impact the game, for sure,’’ Winker said. “They’re in every pitch and they care. This is definitely a hard place to come in and play: It’s windy, it’s about to start getting cooler and it might be raining. On top of that, there’s 40,000 rowdy people. It’s fun. It just feels louder here. It’s cool.”

“I’ve been in the playoffs and any player dreams of getting there,’’ said Winker, who appeared in the 2020 NLDS with the Reds and last year with Milwaukee, losing in two games both times. “After I got traded here, all I’ve wanted to do is get back.”

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