The 2023 season has been rough for the New York Mets.
They aren’t in playoff contention and have been out of the race for a while, they traded some established stars to start a retooling process that doesn’t guarantee contention next year, and fans have a bad taste in their mouths after going from winning 101 games last year to this current version.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons to watch the team, though.
One of them is Francisco Lindor.
The talented shortstop is having his best year as a Met.
In Wednesday’s doubleheader, he hit his 30th home run of the 2023 campaign, reaching that total for the first time since 2019.
FRANCISCO LINDOR. 30/30. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Y5reUxes0A
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 28, 2023
But that’s not all.
Lindor already had 30 stolen bases, so he logged the first 30-30 season of his career.
It’s a little hard to believe given how good he was in his Cleveland Guardians days, but the truth is he never put together that many steals and home runs in the same year.
In fact, his career-high in stolen bases prior to 2023 was 25, achieved in 2018.
It’s another accomplishment in Lindor’s fascinating career.
He is hitting .254/.334/.469 with 33 doubles, 30 homers, 30 steals, and 96 RBI this year.
His OPS is a steady .803.
Lindor’s batting average floor is not as high as it used to be, but his power, speed, and phenomenal defense are all still there.
As a result, he is one of the most valuable Mets as the franchise tries to kick-start another contention window, as early as 2024.
If Lindor is healthy and has a similar season next year, the Mets will probably be much better.
NEXT: Francisco Lindor Inches Closer To An Elite 2023 Mark
