New York Mets slugger Francisco Lindor is playing with a chip on his shoulder.
Last season wasn’t the best for him: adapting to new surroundings and a much more demanding fan base that constantly booed him in April and May, he struggled in the first two months of the season.
Those struggles had a heavy impact on his final season line, as he slashed .230/.322/.412 with a mediocre .734 OPS.
He finished with 20 homers and 10 stolen bases, far from his career highs in both categories (38 and 25, respectively, both in 2018).
But Lindor is trying to leave the rough 2021, which included an epic collective collapse and an untimely oblique injury, behind.
He is showing that he is determined to perform better in 2022, and if his early spring training numbers are any indication, he is ready to have his best season yet.
Somebody is ready for the real games to begin. 💥 https://t.co/lj45G90C3B pic.twitter.com/t8RvsedkK0
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 30, 2022
An Early Spring Training Star
Lindor already has four (!) spring training homers, with 10 RBI and six extra-base hits.
Before Wednesday’s night game, he was hitting .474, a blistering start to the spring.
The Mets badly need a strong season from Lindor, because they play in the same division as the current World Series champions, the Atlanta Braves, and are going to need every single contribution to top them.
Atlanta also brought in some reinforcements, most notably Matt Olson and reliever Kenley Jansen.
The Philadelphia Phillies will likely be players, too, with reigning MVP Bryce Harper surrounded by talent.
In the end, the Mets should be considered the favorites, now that they have Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom in the same rotation.
As for Lindor, he already has a year of experience playing in New York, he is more familiar with his surrounding, organizational expectations, and the way things function in the franchise and in the city.
He should be in for a huge rebound season.
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