Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Francisco Lindor underwent a lot of firsts in his inaugural season with the New York Mets. New team, new city, new baby, new struggles.
The star shortstop had high expectations from the start, signing a 10-year, $341 million contract just before the season began.
Lindor didn’t reach those marks. He didn’t even come close. In 21 games in April he batted .182/.297/.234. In 25 games in May he failed to improve, batting .204/.293/.344.
“I tried to wrap my arms around it. I tried to give it a big hug. But I’m not that big,” Lindor said. “There was a lot of leakage. Life was a little faster for me last year and I tried to give it my best I just wasn’t as productive as I wanted to be.”
Lindor will need to overcome his inconsistencies to lead the Mets this season. Part of that could’ve been the added pressure from being the new face of the Mets.
The four-time All-Star says he never sought out the spotlight. Yet it’s hard to ignore the player who signed the richest deal in team history and is nicknamed Mr. Smile. This season the pressure to carry the Mets should be lessened. New additions like Max Scherzer and Starling Marte will share the spotlight along with returning members Pete Alonso and Jacob deGrom.
Another factor is his familiarity with the organization.
“It feels great, I know every field here (Port St. Lucie) now,” Lindor said. “It’s fun. Even though there’s new faces this year I feel comfortable. I feel comfortable being around the clubhouse, being around you guys (media), being around teammates and everybody.”
Lindor did get more comfortable last season when one of his closest friends Javier Baez was traded to New York. In 30 games across September and October, Lindor batted .257/.346/.549 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs. He learned to embrace New York and got his first taste of stardom in Queens.
Lindor wishes the team brought Baez back again this year but it wasn’t in the Mets plans.
“You know I’m a New York Met and whatever plan they have I’m right there with them,” Lindor said.
One new face that’s already helped Lindor is manager Buck Showalter. He reminds Lindor of his old manager in Cleveland, Terry Francona, and has already made an impact on Lindor’s outlook for the season.
“I’m very excited for the years to come, having him as a manager,” Lindor said. “He just came up and in the conversation he said ’embracing the fans will embrace you’ so it was a different way of seeing things.”
It’s an example of leadership the Mets need.
“It starts with Billy (Eppler) and Buck,” Lindor said. “That’s the number one thing that’s a big change.”
Words don’t equal results, hopefully, a more comfortable Lindor means he’s back to putting up numbers like he was in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
“I can play,” Lindor said. “I don’t think I’ve hit my peak yet.”
