22 Jun GETTING TO KNOW: NEW YORK METS SHORTSTOP FRANCISCO LINDOR
FAST FACTS
Name: Francisco Miguel Lindor
Nickname: Mr. Smile or Paquito
Born: November 14, 1993 (age 27) in
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Height: 5’ 11” Weight: 190 lbs
Position: Shortstop
Uniform Number: 12
MLB debut: June 14, 2015, for the Cleveland Indians
Salary: The New York Mets and shortstop Francisco Lindor have agreed to a 10-year, $341 million deal. Lindor’s deal is the third largest based on total value in major league history, trailing only the deals for the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout ($426.5 million) and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts ($365 million).
During this past offseason the New York Mets acquired All-Star
shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco from
Cleveland. The six-player deal sent infielders Amed Rosario and Andrés
Giménez and two prospects to the Tribe. Lindor, 27, is a four-time
All-Star, two-time Gold Glove Award winner and, as Mets president
Sandy Alderson put it, “really one of the great players in Major
League Baseball.”
Lindor ranks third in runs scored (359), fifth in hits (592), tied for
12th in homers (111) and 17th in stolen bases (68) during that span.
Lindor finished in the top 15 in the American League Most Valuable
Player voting each year from 2016-2019. Since 2016, Lindor has a 47.6
UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) according to FanGraphs, which is the
third-highest rating among all players behind Mookie Betts and
Andrelton Simmons. Lindor has slashed .285/.346/.488 with 191 doubles,
138 homers, 411 RBI and 99 stolen bases in 777 games during his
six-year career with Cleveland.
I’m very excited about this new chapter in my life. It’s a very
exciting time for me & my family.
So much thanks has to first go to Steve and Alex Cohen, as well as
Sandy for their hard work and commitment to winning. I’m thrilled and
blessed to be part of this organization for years to come. Everyone
has welcomed me and my family with open arms. I’m beyond excited to go
out and play for Mets fans and help bring a championship to Queens.
My pops! He was the person I always wanted to be like. The man that
taught me a lot and the man that is still teaching me things to this
day.
Who was your favorite baseball player growing up?
Roberto Alomar
You are known for both your bat & your glove. Which do you enjoy more:
Getting an RBI hit at the plate or taking away an RBI hit in the
field?
What is your favorite sport other than baseball?
I like to play basketball & tennis.
What do you like to do when you are not playing baseball?
I love to spend time with my young daughter & family. I also enjoy
bike riding. I’m also into watches & cars.
What’s your favorite food to eat?
Pizza & lasagna. I could eat pizza for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
What is the best advice you ever received?
Stay true to yourself. Be who you are. Don’t pretend to be someone else.
What do you want New Yorkers to know about you?
I’m blessed and I will give it everything I got to win this game. I
want people to get to know that I’m just a little kid at heart that
smiles and has fun and cares about other people. This is me, this is
who I am.