Cincinnati Reds’ Jesse Winker honors Joe Morgan at All-Star Recreation

DENVER – A few days before Jesse Winker left for the All-Star Game at Coors Field, Colorado, he saw his Joe Morgan jersey hanging in his closet.

It sparked an idea.

Winker wore Morgan’s No. 8 Reds jersey, a gray uniform, as he walked the red carpet the Tuesday before the All-Star Game. He asked the Morgan family’s permission to wear the uniform beforehand, and the family agreed.

“Before I came here, I (Red’s Clubhouse Manager) Rick Stowe had been in touch with the Morgan family,” said Winker. “Just for the red carpet thing, I thought I’d pay tribute to it and represent Cincinnati in a way that I thought everyone would be proud of.”

Winker bought the jersey in the off-season after Morgan died in October. Of course, he didn’t know at the time that he would be playing in the All-Star Game or wearing it on the red carpet. He just wanted a Morgan jersey.

“Joe Morgan was an incredible man,” said Winker. “The mark he’s made in baseball, especially in Cincinnati, is incredible. I really appreciate every moment I could spend with him and listen to him talk. He’s the guy I grew up with on Sunday Night Baseball. “

Winker walked the red carpet with his family on Tuesday. He carried his daughter Wren in his arms.

Most of the players wore their best suits during their red carpet walk, but Winker and teammate Nick Castellanos took a more sentimental route. Castellanos was wearing a T-shirt that his little son Liam had given him for his 29th birthday with a drawing of Castellanos.

“It kind of hit me,” said Winker. “I had the jersey hanging in my closet in Cincinnati and thought to myself, you know what, I want to wear this jersey as long as you agree and they were, so I was very grateful for that.”

Morgan worked in the Reds’ front office in the years before his death. He attended spring training regularly and made several trips to Cincinnati throughout the season to chat with players and front office staff.

“He went to Cincinnati a couple of times after the Games. I remember finishing a few day games and then being there after everyone was gone and he was there. I’m just talking about hitting. Listen to him talk. It was kind of a chill moment, man. He was a Hall of Famer, a champion, and he really represented Cincinnati the best he could.

“We will all miss him. He was an incredible man. I want to thank the Morgan family for giving me their blessing to wear his jersey. ”