Jesse Winker had a great reaction after his former teammate struck him out. David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Jesse Winker gives thumbs-up to ex-teammate Matt Harvey after strikeout

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 8/19/20

We won’t call it a comeback just yet. However, The Dark Knight made his first Major League Baseball appearance in Kansas City Wednesday night since May of last year.

Matt Harvey is back in the bigs taking on his former Cincinnati Reds squad. It started out pretty darn well for the 31-year-old righty. That included Harvey throwing two shutout innings to open the game.

Check out the reaction of his former teammate, Jesse Winker, as Harvey gets him swinging. This is something else.

This reaction from Jesse Winker after former teammate Matt Harvey struck him out (whispers, Winker got revenge one at-bat later). pic.twitter.com/Pd9DJsFFiO
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) August 20, 2020

A thumbs-up. Tip of the cap. Doesn’t matter. Winker knows how hard Harvey has worked to get back to this level after a combination of injuries, immaturity and on-field struggles ruined a once-promising career.

In an interesting twist of fate, Winker would take Harvey deep one at-bat later in the third inning to give Cincinnati a 2-0 lead. That’s certainly not the way the pitcher drew it up.

Signed to a minor league deal this summer, Harvey last appeared in the majors with the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched to a disastrous 3-5 record with a 7.09 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 12 starts.

From 2012 to '15, Harvey was among the best young pitchers in baseball with the New York Mets. That span saw him compile a 25-18 record with a 2.53 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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