So this is more of the real Francisco Lindor that’s been teased since his highly-anticipated arrival in New York.
An emotional weekend that saw the surprise visit of his mother jolted the Mets star’s offense into motion, cracking a pair of home runs with six RBI between Friday and Saturday’s games against the Miami Marlins.
“Lindor’s been here. I’ve been here,” he said after the Mets’ 3-2 win on Saturday (h/t New York Post). “Whether it’s good or bad, I’ve been here.”
While he continues to work out of a slump in which he batted just .175 in his previous 14 games, the 28-year-old is already piecing together a much more productive second season in Queens after the debut campaign of his 10-year, $341 million contract fell woefully short of expectations.
“Let me go back,” he continued. “The real Lindor’s always been here, I just struggled, and this year I’m playing a little bit better.”
Lindor’s 11 home runs entering Sunday afternoon’s matinee against the Marlins are the same amount he had on July 11 last season — needing over 70 fewer plate appearances to hit that mark in 2022.
His 51 RBI are not only just 12 fewer than he had all last year in 524 plate appearances (he didn’t hit 51 last year until Sept. 12), it’s tied for fourth-most in Major League Baseball.
A significant turnaround, and one that was a necessity to justify owner Steve Cohen doling out such a monster contract. But the four-time All-Star rightfully isn’t satisfied, especially after posting a .285 career batting average over his first six MLB seasons with the Cleveland Guardians.
“I feel like there’s so much room for me to grow,” Lindor said. “Even in Cleveland, I didn’t hit my peak in Cleveland. I definitely haven’t hit it here yet. Every day I’m learning. I feel like every day, there’s something that I could have done better.
“I’ve been working my butt off day-in and day-out to be the best I can be. But I feel like I definitely can better. Even this year I definitely can improve a lot more.”
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It certainly helps that Lindor is in a lineup that offers plenty of support around him, most notably Pete Alonso’s MVP-caliber start. However, the consistent confidence from manager Buck Showalter has given the shortstop the freedom to find his way.
“He’s not at the level he spoiled us with for a little while [earlier this year]. It’s really hard to do,” Showalter said during a Lindor slump last month. “But I don’t worry about him. He’s playing a good shortstop, playing with great effort, engaged with every game, every inning. I’m real happy with him.
“What may not be happening perfectly now… he’ll figure it out.”
It looks like he’s in the process of doing just that.
