Mets’ Francisco Lindor honored with 2026 Clemente Award

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Francisco Lindor is more than just a quality shortstop for the New York Mets; he is a pillar of the communities in Puerto Rico, New York and Florida. 

The work Lindor does off the field is why he was named this year’s recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One. Lindor will be formally presented with the prestigious award at Tropicana Field before Game 3 of the World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.   

Lindor, 32, became the sixth member of the Mets -- Gary Carter (1989), Al Leiter  [2000], Carlos Delgado (2006), Carlos Beltrán (2013) and Curtis Granderson (2016) are the others -- to win the Clemente award.

Francisco Lindor reacts to being honored with 2026 Clemente Award

After learning he was honored for his philanthropic endeavors, Lindor called the award the most important in Major League Baseball. Being honored means the world to Lindor, who will have a commemorative patch of Clemente’s number, 21, on the back of his cap for the rest of his career. Like Clemente, Lindor grew up in Puerto Rico.  

“We grew up idolizing Clemente in Puerto Rico. He is part of our history. To win an award that has his name on it is pretty cool,” Lindor told reporters. “I remember going to history classes in Puerto Rico during second, third and fourth grade and you learn about (the natives). You heard about Roberto Clemente. … I’m grateful for this award.”  

Lindor has immersed himself in the type of humanitarian and community efforts that distinguished the life of Clemente, one that ended at age 38 on New Year's Eve 1972, when the plane he was using to deliver aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims crashed. 

Lindor's contributions outside of Citi Field are many. He has done extensive work for organizations like the Seen Foundation, a nonprofit that helps families with children navigating physical disabilities. Deepening its commitment to the award's impact, Capital One is donating $100,000 to the Foundation in honor of Lindor’s achievement. 

Lindor hasn’t forgotten Montverde (Fla.) Academy, the school he attended. According to MLB.com, Lindor established the Francisco Lindor Scholarship Fund to provide opportunities for students who otherwise would not have the financial means to attend the academy.

Lindor regularly participates in the Mets' Clinic for Champions with Special Olympics Florida and hosts the Lindor Clinic for Kids for local youth leagues and Boys & Girls Clubs. Let’s not forget that he has provided financial support to Puerto Rico following Hurricanes Maria and Fiona. Lindor provided financial support for disaster relief, restored athletic facilities in his hometown of Caguas, hosted youth baseball clinics and partnered with organizations including Team Rubicon, the Amazin' Mets Foundation, Players for the Planet and Rescate Playas Borinquen to support recovery and environmental conservation efforts. 

Fellow Puerto Ricans like Delgado, Edgar Martinez and Yadier Molina influenced Lindor to give back to the community. Lindor hopes winning the Clemente Award will convince the younger generation of baseball players to follow in his footsteps. 

“Sometimes, we as athletes seem like we are so far away from the general public, but we are not. We are in the community. We are giving back and we are helping,” Lindor said. “Hopefully, (winning the award) will give me a bigger platform to continue to help create better opportunities for people back home. Hopefully, the young generation coming up will be like Francisco a little bit, but like Clemente because we all try to be like Clemente.”  

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.