The shortstop Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor made his position clear after the owner’s decision Steve Cohen of not naming captain in the New York Mets. Despite being one of the natural leaders of the clubhouse and the player with the longest tenure in the franchise, the five-time All-Star assured that his role within the team will not change.
Lindor supports Steve Cohen’s decision
During Spring Training, Cohen explained that he prefers leadership to be built organically each season and without official appointments. Lindor, who is entering his sixth season with the Mets and has a contract until 2031, stated that he respects the board’s position.
“Being captain or not, I’m going to act the same. I’m happy that the issue has been closed so we can focus on playing and winning,” commented the Puerto Rican.
The team owner also highlighted that the figure of captain is not common in baseball and that each team is different year after year, so leadership must emerge from the locker room itself.
A new cycle under Carlos Mendoza
The New York franchise faces its third season under the command of manager Carlos Mendoza and with important changes to the squad. The team let players like Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz leave in free agency, in addition to transferring homegrown players like Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.
Historically, only four players have been official captains in Mets history: Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, John Franco and David Wright.
Leadership without a label: the clubhouse philosophy
Lindor insisted that the team has leaders within the locker room without the need for formal titles. For the shortstop, the most important thing is to focus on performance on the field and build collective chemistry.
The decision comes at a time of transition for the Mets, who are seeking to redefine their competitive identity following several high-impact roster moves.
Recovery and numbers that support Lindor
The Puerto Rican is also working on his return after surgery on February 11 to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand, an injury that could put his availability for the start of the season in doubt.
Last season, Lindor played 160 games and led MLB with 762 plate appearances, recording a .267 average, 31 home runs, 86 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. Additionally, he was left off Puerto Rico’s roster for the next World Baseball Classic due to health insurance issues.
