Struggles Continue for Francisco Lindor

Francisco Lindor’s early season stats are less than encouraging. In the Mets’ recent game, a 7-1 defeat against the Diamondbacks, he snapped an 11 at-bat hitless streak with a single during his fourth at-bat in the seventh inning.

This season, he’s only managed eight hits, with just three being extra-base hits. Lindor acknowledges that the start is challenging but insists that the surgery he underwent to remove the hamate bone from his left hand in February isn’t the cause of his struggles.

In fact, he had two hits and a double against Arizona earlier in the week, and he recalls a powerful hit against Mitch Keller from the Pirates back in March—a ball that flew 166 mph to center field—which he considers a sign that he’s still capable of power hitting despite the surgery.

“They said the power would be down, but I’m hitting the ball as hard as I ever have,” Lindor expressed before facing the Diamondbacks. “It’s just a matter of time.”

While feeling confident about his hitting, he did admit to occasionally “feeling the effects of the injury.” Everyone hopes the haze will lift, but it’s certainly a process.

“Of course, there’s concern about whether things are the same,” he noted. “We do grip tests, yet we can’t measure if it’s as strong as before. I believe I’m hitting normally, and that’s my stance.”

However, the results aren’t favorable. Lindor’s 8-for-51 average (.157) reflects his ongoing struggles, as noted by the manager. “Injury has nothing to do with Lindor,” he remarked, although he acknowledged that Lindor’s only successful April in his career was the previous year.

With other players like Juan Soto sidelined due to calf and Achilles issues, Lindor’s lack of production is particularly critical right now. One would think this might add pressure, but Lindor disagrees. “No, Juan is irreplaceable,” he stated. “What he contributes on the field and at the plate is unmatched.”

Yet, Lindor feels he could do more. “I need to have better at-bats every day,” he said. “If I can do that, the results will come.”

Reflecting on the situation, he acknowledged that slow starts are not uncommon. “It looks worse at the beginning because the numbers aren’t there. But a sense of urgency is essential, as I feel. You can’t just think, ‘We’ll get there.’” Despite struggles in the past, he believes he can soon turn things around.

Manager Carlos Mendoza added that Lindor didn’t achieve a multi-hit game until the ninth match of last season, noting that he often starts slow. “He’s an aggressive hitter,” Mendoza concluded. “He’s going to swing and get through this.”