Francisco Lindor just wrapped up what has to be one of the strangest, most uncharacteristic seasons of his entire 12-year career, and man, it’s been a tough watch. With only two games left to play, the star shortstop has been battling a relentless string of injuries all year long, and the numbers are screaming. He’s posted career-worst statistical totals across the board, making it clear why things have felt so off.
The Injury Gauntlet That Crushed a Season
Seriously, this guy couldn’t catch a break. Lindor started off rough, undergoing surgery in the winter to clean up some tissue in his elbow. Then, just when you’d expect him to ramp up, he showed up to camp with a broken hamate bone and missed most of it. But the hits kept coming: he tweaked his calf just weeks into the season, sidelining him for two crucial months. Even after he got back from the IL, we’ve only seen flashes of that expected All-Star form. He hasn’t looked quite like himself at the plate, in the field, or even on the bases. The proof is in the disastrous stats: a career-worst .731 OPS, a career-high 11 errors at shortstop, and a -1 in OAA, putting him in the 41st percentile according to Statcast. You can point to the slow start and all those injuries for the slump in offense, sure, but some of those mental mistakes, both offensively and defensively, have been absolutely head-scratching.
“No Other Option”: Lindor’s Fierce Promise
Whatever the reason, the man himself knows this simply isn’t good enough. Lindor is fully aware he has to be better, stating it plain and clear to Mike Puma of the NY Post. “I have no other option,” he told him, “I have to go back to being a plus-player at shortstop, not only defensively, but running and hitting, too.” That’s the kind of fire you want to hear, isn’t it? That kind of grit is exactly what the Mets need if they have any hope of turning things around next year. They’ve got some exciting young pieces shining in their system, building a developing core, but let’s be real: their stars, Lindor and Juan Soto, absolutely have to stay healthy and lead the charge from the top.
The season is all but done, with just two games left. For Lindor, this isn’t just the end of a bad year; it’s the start of an urgent mission to rediscover that “plus-player” form. Fans are gonna be watching closely to see him back at his best when next year rolls around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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