The normally-sure-handed Francisco Lindor has encountered some defensive issues in the early goings of the 2025 season.
The star shortstop, who finished second in the NL MVP voting last season and was a significant snub for the Gold Glove Award, made a game-changing error in the third inning of Tuesday night’s loss to the Minnesota Twins.
With the Mets up 1-0 behind Pete Alonso’s home run, the Twins put runners at the corner against starter Tylor Megill with two outs. A routine ground ball by Ty France to Lindor’s left was booted, clanging off the glove of the shortstop to bring in the tying run.
“That’s a play he makes 100 out of 100 times,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It just didn’t happen.”
One batter later, Carlos Correa singled to put the Twins ahead.
“My eyes got a little blurry because of the weather, but it’s unacceptable,” Lindor said. “What’s happening right now is unacceptable. It’s not to the standard the Mets have, and definitely not the standard I have with myself.”
The Mets lost 6-3, with Lindor representing the tying run in the top of the ninth striking out to end the game. But a slow start at the dish, which is becoming customary, is bleeding its way into his defense.
Lindor, who is batting .234 with a .631 OPS, has now committed a league-worst four errors in 141 defensive innings this season. He had just 12 errors in 1,311.2 innings last year.
Two of those came during an April 1 loss to the Miami Marlins, which led to two unearned runs for Kodai Senga in a 4-2 loss.
“It’s been two games already that I cost the team,” Lindor said. “So I have to get better for sure… I have to finish the play for the boys. I have to execute.”
The 31-year-old’s struggles have been somewhat overshadowed by the Mets’ strong start to the season thanks to stellar pitching picking up an offense that has sputtered at times. But like that Miami game, Mendoza sees Lindor’s mistake as more of a one-off than anything.
“It happens, man. It’s baseball,” he said. “He’ll get over it. He’s too good a player. They’re human. They’re going to make mistakes. I’ll take my chances with him any time.”
