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MLB Potentially Facing Major Francisco Lindor Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 3:47 PM ET

Upon first thought, the possibility of an MLB All-Star Game not featuring Francisco Lindor not wearing a New York Mets uniform might sound strange.

Incredibly, it's actually been the norm since Lindor's 2021 arrival in Queens. Despite remaining one of the NL's premier shortstops and even placing second behind Shohei Ohtani in MVP voting last year, Lindor has never made the Midsummer Classic as a Met.

Lindor, unsurprisingly, has picked up where he left off last year, and he could force Major League Baseball to make a difficult decision when it comes time to finalize the All-Star Game rosters.

For the unfamiliar, fans determine the All-Star Game starting hitters in two voting periods. The league then uses its own judgment, coupled with player ballots, to determine pitchers and position player reserves.

In other words, if the fans vote Lindor as the starter, he's headed to Atlanta, barring an injury. It'd be well-deserved, given Lindor's 2.2 bWAR and .843 OPS for the NL East-leading Mets.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden recently projected that Lindor will start, with Philadelphia Phillies veteran Trea Turner and Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz backing him up.

However, suppose Turner instead earns the starting nod. The league would decide the backups, likely picking from a group featuring Lindor, De La Cruz, and the Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams. As is typically the case, at least one deserving player will stay home unless they're called upon as an injury replacement.

Hello, Francisco Lindor.
Goodbye, baseball. pic.twitter.com/o5Tz5a4K0V
— MLB (@MLB) May 6, 2025

It's also worth noting that every team, including the lowly Colorado Rockies, must have at least one player in the All-Star Game. So, theoretically, Abrams could earn the final shortstop roster spot so the Nationals are represented.

Conversely, the Mets are on track to send first baseman Pete Alonso, starting pitcher Kodai Senga, and potentially even closer Edwin Díaz.

Major League Baseball won't announce the All-Star Game rosters until July 6. We'll see if Lindor earns his first selection since 2019 or if he'll make it 0-for-5.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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