Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Jesse Winker was slated to bat second in Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Winker has been scratched from Sunday's game due to right oblique tightness, Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy reports.
Winker is off to a strong start in his return to the Midwest, slashing .300/.389/.789 with nine RBI in his first nine games with the Brewers.
The Brewers acquired Winker and infielder Abraham Toro from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for second baseman Kolten Wong in December. After excelling in his first five big league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Winker was dealt to the Mariners in a blockbuster trade prior to the start of the 2022 Major League season. The Reds sent Winker and third baseman Eugenio Suarez to Seattle in exchange for Jake Fraley, Justin Dunn, Brandon Williamson and Connor Phillips.
Winker was a shell of himself in Seattle, posting career lows in Batting Average (.219), On Base Percentage (.344) and OPS (.688). The Mariners pulled the plug on the Winker experiment after one year, dealing him before he entered the final year of his contract.
Winker has found early success in his time with the Brewers. He will make his long-awaited return to Cincinnati in early June, when the Reds host the Brewers at the Great American Ballpark.
With Winker out of the Brewers' lineup Sunday, Mike Brosseau will play third base, with Brian Anderson filling in for Winker at designated hitter.
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