The 2025 advent of “Heated Rivalry” brought about a cultural reset that made one thing absolutely clear: Sports are horny now! Or rather, sports have always been horny—big, sweaty men getting all up in each other’s space? The only difference is that now we’re enjoying their inherent (homo)eroticism more openly. Gone are the days of being ashamed of ogling a baseball player’s butt in those tight pants and hiding fanfiction tabs about Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook kissing at half-court. 

I was first introduced to Gina Wynbrandt in 2022, after she had gone viral for her comic “How Jarred Kelenic Got His Groove Back,” which depicted a fantasy of Wynbrandt having sex with then Seattle Mariners player Jarred Kelenic to help him clear his head and play to his potential. Shortly after posting the comic on Reddit, Wynbrandt became a kind of mythic character in online Mariners fan spheres, an almost god-like figure who could be called upon to lift players from their slumps. The comic itself is just as hilarious as the online reception, and it’s perfectly executed. There’s this gorgeous panel in which Kelenic has his shapely arms wrapped around Wynbrandt’s legs that’s both sexy and absurd at once. 

And that’s really where Wynbrandt’s genius lies: her ability to mix such ridiculous brashness and vulgarity with sex and longing in an incredibly poignant manner. From comics about Sonic the Hedgehog licking her toes to becoming Justin Bieber’s toilet to, of course, naked baseball, sometimes it feels like there’s no fantasy, fandom, or taboo that Wynbrandt won’t touch. In doing so, she hits at the core of an ugly feminine desire, desire that isn’t always wanted, desire that becomes obsessive and desperate and gross, and puts it in the starting line-up.

Recommend If You Like: How did you first get into baseball? How has your fandom evolved? 

Gina Wynbrandt: I was born into a Cubs family and grew up just a few blocks from Wrigley Field. My dad was a season ticket holder since the ’80s (all the way until a few years ago when he moved to Florida), so I grew up going to many games every year. My dad raised my siblings and me to enjoy “the Wrigley Field Experience” (the ballpark atmosphere) and not to worry about whether the Cubs were “good” or “bad” (they were usually bad). I never really liked other sports but always loved watching baseball live. I didn’t follow the Cubs closely on a daily basis, but of course I was thrilled to watch their journey to the World Series in 2016. Cubs winning the World Series was the most emotion I’ve ever seen my dad show our family. Once I started dating my baseball-loving ex in 2018, over time, I started following baseball more closely, as a way to connect more with him. Now we’re broken up, but my baseball fandom persists. 

RIYL: Now you’re a Mariners fan and a Cubs fan? 

Gina Wynbrandt: Yes. It’s fucked up. My ex is a Mariners fan. I feel cucked. But I’m too mentally, emotionally, and financially invested in the Mariners to stop following. And I’ve become friends with a lot of other Mariners fans; it’s a great fanbase. 

RIYL: Tell me about your calendars!

Gina Wynbrandt: I saw a gap in the market. There’s not a lot of “cool” art/merch for baseball fans, and I had a hunch that fans would respond well to a cutely illustrated print of the schedule. I was coasting on the success of the Kelenic comic, and they sold well. So, I’ve kept making them. Currently just for the Cubs and Mariners, but I want to do more teams. 

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RIYL: Do you think there’s something inherently sexy or erotic about baseball compared to other sports? 

Gina Wynbrandt: Maybe not specific to baseball, but I’m always on the lookout for any hint of homoeroticism in men’s sports. Team sports are a safe space where guys can act a little gay together. And I, for one, think that’s beautiful. 

RIYL: I’m obviously obsessed with your comic “How Jarred Kelenic Got His Groove Back.” Can you tell me a little about the inspiration? Why Kelenic?

Gina Wynbrandt: The Kelenic comic came about when Brian Baynes asked me to contribute a comic to Bubbles Zine. Brian is a big baseball fan (check out his awesome baseball issue, “Bubbles #12”), and I wanted to do something about baseball to make him smile. At the time, I’d just read Jose Canseco’s autobiography, where he talks about players using slumpbusters. Specifically, the type of slumpbuster where a player has sex with the fattest, ugliest woman he can find. As a fat woman, it amused me. I wondered what it would be like if a hot baseball player wanted to have sex with me to break his slump and decided to make the comic about that. I picked Kelenic because I was already familiar with his story and felt he was a good candidate. He has (had?) loads of potential, but many struggles.  

RIYL: Can you tell me about the reception of the comic? There was a period of time where you were an r/Mariners celebrity. I remember half the threads would include someone saying, “Thanks, Gina!” when Kelenic was doing well. What was it like breaking through to such an atypical audience for you? 

Gina Wynbrandt: When Bubbles published the comic, it was positive, but didn’t break containment; it remained with indie comic audiences. After a few months, I wondered if online baseball fans would get a kick out of it and shared it to Reddit, where it went minorly viral. Mostly for being weird. Many comments were to the effect of “erm what the heck did I just read? o_O” The comic had another resurgence a few months later, at the beginning of the 2023 season, because Kelenic was finally hitting his stride and doing better than ever. Baseball Reddit attributed his success to me, which I’ve always felt bittersweet about. On one hand, it’s funny, and it’s great to be recognized for my work. On the other hand, all the jokes take away from the real success Kelenic made all on his own. I imagine Kelenic resents me. </3

RIYL: In “Official Baseball Rules 2023,” you introduce some new MLB rules. Do you have any 2026 updates? New rules you would implement this year?

Gina Wynbrandt: If I could implement a real rule, it would be to remove all gambling, gaming partnerships and promotions from broadcasts and real life. It’s just too much! 

RIYL: Did you hear about the humping ban? Any thoughts?*

Gina Wynbrandt: MLB made a powerful enemy (me) when they banned SF’s outfield from humping each other. Fortunately, they’re being creative and still finding ways to be sexy together: 

RIYL: Best ass in baseball? 

Gina Wynbrandt: Ooh. Cal Raleigh is called Big Dumper for a reason. Ian Happ has a big butt, too. But I’m more into big, meaty forearms. Like Ty France’s. 

*In May 2026, the MLB asked the San Francisco Giants to stop their celebratory ritual of thrusting against each other three times. The team, however, found a way around this ban by simply thrusting against each other twice.

This piece is in Recommend If You Like The Baseball Issue Summer 2026. You can find physical copies in bars, cafes and stores in Chicago and Washington, D.C. The newspaper is available for purchase here. 

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