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Mets Shortstop Joins Illustrious Club

The New York Mets have entered their final week of games for the 2023 season. Two series against division rivals the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies are on the docket as the Mets close out the campaign. It’s been a season of disappointments and frustrations. The two teams they play are either in the playoffs (Phillies) or trying to get in (Marlins). However, it hasn’t been all disappointing for every Met on the team individually. Players such as Kodai Senga, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Álvarez are about to close out strong seasons. One of the Mets stars on the team is closing out a season to remember, Francisco Lindor. On Wednesday, during a doubleheader with Miami, Lindor reached a significant milestone and joined an exclusive club.

Mets Shortstop Joins Illustrious Club

Big Day At Citi Field For Lindor

Lindor has been on a quest for the 30/30 club for most of the season. He significantly surged in stolen bases as the year progressed, and with his power numbers still consistent, he had a chance to reach the milestone. Lindor entered Wednesday’s doubleheader and the final homestand of the season three home runs shy of the 30-homer mark. He would do it extraordinarily. In Game 1 of the doubleheader that saw the Mets get a dominating 11-2 win over the Marlins, Lindor crushed a two-run home run—giving the Mets a 4-0 lead.

 

Lindor would also add a bases loaded RBI single to drive in two in the bottom of the 7th to extend the Mets lead to 8-2. A 4-RBI Game 1 was only the beginning of his memorable night in Queens. He entered Game 2 now two home runs away. In the bottom of the 2nd inning with the Mets down 1-0, and now batting from the left side, Lindor hit one to the bullpen.

 

Two down and one to go to join the club. One home run in a double header is good. Two home runs in a double header are impressive. Three in a double header? Doesn’t happen often. Well, in the bottom of the 4th with the Mets down 2-1, Lindor stepped up to the plate. Lindor, do your thing.

 

Lindor Makes Mets And MLB History

While the Mets went on to lose Game 2, the stories of the day on New York’s side were Lindor reaching the 30/30 club and Senga notching 200 strikeouts as a rookie. Lindor became just the fourth Met in team history to accomplish the feat. The others were Darryl Strawberry in 1987, Howard Johnson in 1987, 1989, and 1991, and finally, David Wright in 2007. Lindor’s 30th home run this year and 75th overall as a Met also tied him with Rusty Staub for 28th on the all-time Mets home run list.

 

Lindor currently has 33 doubles on the year, making it 30/30/30. On the MLB history books, Lindor is the first shortstop to reach 30/30/30 since Hanley Ramírez in 2008. It took 15 years for another shortstop to do what Lindor did.

 

Lindor also became the sixth switch-hitter in MLB history to reach the 30/30/30 part of the milestone.

 

 

Lindor’s 30 home runs ties him with Miguel Tejada for 3rd on the list of most 30 home run seasons by a shortstop with four. He is now one behind Ernie Banks (five) and three behind Álex Rodríguez (seven).

 

 

Lindor’s Mets Journey Continues

Lindor’s Mets tenure got off to a rocky start in the first two months or so of 2021. He faced harsh criticism from Mets fans and the New York media. Criticism that he still gets even now. However, since the middle and end of his first season, Lindor has been exactly the player the Mets thought they were getting. These last two full years proves just that. The reality of Francisco Lindor is he’s a very, very good baseball player. He can hit, steal bases, play great defense, and is a tremendous leader in the locker room. The Mets and their fans are fortunate to have him on the team.

 

Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

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