Francisco Lindor's Resurgence Is a Great Sign for Mets Going Forward

Few things have been more emblematic of the New York Mets' lost 2026 season than Francisco Lindor. Injuries have decimated Lindor's season. A hamate bone surgery cost him most of spring training, and a calf injury wiped out two months of regular season play, helping the Mets spiral in the standings.

The Mets' captain also had to endure a ridiculous media-generated trade rumor circus that made no sense, which showcased why the franchise had to do better by him. Despite all the outside noise, Lindor has continued to show up for work and has quietly reminded people why he is one of the best players in baseball.

Since the start of the second half, Lindor is batting .269 with seven home runs, 20 RBI, and an .865 OPS in 119 at-bats. Lindor is notably running less, racking up only three stolen bases over the course of the season, but that is to be expected, considering he is trying to navigate a return from the calf issue.

Recent comments from Lindor affirmed his commitment to the franchise, and that's a good sign since he has a no-trade clause and remains one of the best building blocks the Mets have. The team's improved play recently has given fans something to watch down the stretch, and Lindor himself is showing why questions of his demise were far premature.

Francisco Lindor's strong second half offers key hope to 2027 Mets

There have been a few notable defensive lapses from Lindor throughout the season, but no one can act shocked that a shortstop in his early 30s may be losing a step or two. Lindor was working from a Gold Glove-caliber ceiling as a defender, so even if he slips to the ranks of very good, the Mets would be ahead at that key position.

It is also encouraging to see visible signs of improving chemistry with Juan Soto, which became a storyline when owner Steve Cohen did an ill-advised podcast interview and shared more than he should have about clubhouse dynamics. Soto and Lindor have appeared much friendlier towards each other as the season has progressed, which could help improve chemistry in a locker room that may have been soiled for a while.

Furthermore, having a healthy Lindor at shortstop is good. It puts less pressure on the rest of the team, such as allowing Bo Bichette to fully acclimate to third base and offering a leader for young players like Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing to follow. Despite what most fans would consider a "down" year for Lindor, he has still produced 1.3 Wins Above Replacement in only 71 games, a pace that would put him above 3 WAR if he had played a full season.

Fans also tend to forget that Lindor is a typical slow starter, and having two significant injuries early in the campaign didn't help. Lindor appears just fine now that he is in the rhythm of the season, and the Mets can certainly count on him to be a significant part of their 2027 plans, which makes building the rest of the roster a bit easier.

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