Former Mets captain campaigns for Francisco Lindor to receive honor

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. 

According to ESPN stats, Lindor led the Mets last season (among qualified players) with 618 at-bats, 107 runs scored, 169 hits, 39 doubles, 91 RBI, a .273 batting average and a .344 on-base percentage. He was second behind only first baseman Pete Alonso (34) with 33 home runs. 

A story from this past July detailed how Lindor and outfielder Brandon Nimmo began paying for team dinners on road trips during the club's resurgence last season. According to Martino, Lindor has recently worked to ensure that All-Star outfielder Juan Soto gets "comfortable with his new team" after Soto left the New York Yankees to sign with the Mets this past offseason. 

"Soto left behind several close relationships with the Yankees, an organization that quickly came to feel like home for him," Martino explained. "Lindor, far from feeling territorial about the arrival of a new superstar, has gone out of his way to be inclusive."

The Mets haven't had an official captain since beloved third baseman David Wright retired after the 2018 season. With Lindor already serving as Wright's successor, it seems a given the 31-year-old will have a "C" added to his uniform sooner rather than later.