SEATTLE — Francisco Lindor charged behind the mound, hit a chopper with his bare hands and launched it toward first base, off-balance in one motion.
The timing had to be perfect, but Pete Alonso’s footwork as he came off the base helped, allowing the Mets shortstop to celebrate what he considers his favorite defensive gem of the season.
The play took place last Saturday in Anaheim, California, with Matt Theis batting for the Angels, and Lindor did a little dance at the end of the play.
It was just one of the highlights of a season in which Lindor has been an artist at the position.
By at least one metric, Lindor has been elite this season.
Statcast combines several defensive metrics into one overall number called Fielding Run Value.
Lindor entered Friday ranked 10th among all players this season with 10 defensive runs scored, putting him in the 97th percentile in MLB.
The only shortstops rated higher than Lindor were Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals and Dansby Swanson of the Cubs, with 12 and 11 runs scored, respectively.
“I haven’t really seen those numbers before, so I don’t know how to compare them, but I’m having a lot of fun,” Lindor said before the Mets opened a three-game series against the Mariners on Friday.
The 30-year-old Lindor played through bone spurs in his right elbow last season, but being pain-free certainly helps.
Lindor underwent surgery to remove the shrapnel in October last year.
“This year, my arms [Mark] “Vientos’ arm is better,” Lindor said, jokingly teasing the Mets third baseman. “He’s in better shape, and that being said, his arm is in better shape so if he can make contact with the ball he has a better chance of making a play.”
Lindor’s arm strength is still rated below average, according to Statcast.
But he more than makes up for it with his range.
His 13 outs above average ranks him 8th in MLB and in the 99th percentile.
Lindor won two Gold Glove awards with Cleveland but has not won the award since joining the Mets prior to the 2021 season.
Last season, he reached the National League finals, where Swanson won the championship.
Barring a defensive slump late in the year, he’ll likely be a candidate again.
“He’s smarter now in the way he does his job,” said Mets infield coach Mike Serbaugh, who held the same position in Cleveland for the past decade. “He’s the same guy, but all the experience over the last eight or nine years has made him smarter. And he’s learned about his body. He wants to be in the lineup every day, he works hard every day. I’m very impressed with that.”
Sabo appreciates that a player of Lindor’s caliber remains open to new ideas.
“I’ll tell you what I felt in the game, and the next day he wants to come out and practice,” Sabo said. “You don’t always see that with a guy who’s been playing as long as he has. We’ve been emphasizing being more aggressive with the slow-hit ball, and he wants to come out and practice the next day.”
Jose Iglesias competed against Lindor in the AL Central for four seasons with the Tigers and said he was educated as Lindor’s teammate.
“Playing with Lindor just keeps pushing the envelope,” Iglesias said. “He just elevates the quality of my game. He plays hard and he plays every day. It’s contagious and playing with a guy like him makes it a lot easier for me. Every inning, every pitch counts, so it’s an honor.”
Lindor’s defensive metrics line up with what Iglesias sees on a daily basis.
“That’s what’s special about Paco: He wants to improve, he maintains a high level and performs well,” Iglesias said. “What impresses me even more is how hungry he is, how disciplined he is, how dedicated he is. It’s contagious, so I identify with him.”
