New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza revealed during an appearance on New York sports radio station WFAN last week (h/t SNY’s Robert Sanchez)
that he’s “had some conversations with” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns about shortstop Francisco Lindor becoming the fifth team captain in franchise history.
During a recent chat with MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY, former Mets captain and longtime closer John Franco shared why Lindor should receive the honor before the 2025 regular season.
“He’s the unofficial captain anyways,” Franco said about Lindor. “There is leadership with the way he presents himself on the field and off the field. When he was going bad, he had the same demeanor, the same approach. And the way he gets to know the younger players and talks to them, almost like teaching. I see him talking with the young guys and hitting, fielding, even the pitching. There are leadership qualities in the way he presents himself.”
The players-only meeting Lindor called on May 29, the same night the 2024 Mets fell to 22-33, has routinely been credited with saving a season that saw the Amazins complete a trip to the National League Championship Series. It also didn’t hurt that Lindor emerged as the eventual NL MVP runner-up.
