Francisco Lindor waited a month to return to the lineup at Citi Field. When he finally made it back on Tuesday, was it everything he hoped for? “It was better,” Lindor said, showing his signature smile. “Pretty cool. Pretty special.”
Playing at home for the first time since September 8 due to a back injury, the Mets’ star shortstop was greeted with “MVP!” chants from a packed crowd that joyfully sang along to his walk-up song, “My Girl” by The Temptations.
At the plate, Lindor went 1 for 5 with an RBI double in the eighth inning, helping New York win 7-2 against the rival Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of their NL Division Series.
The surprising Mets now have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and can advance to the National League Championship Series with another win on Wednesday at home.
“Amazing. Amazing. The fans really put on a great show,” Lindor said. “Great atmosphere.”
A candidate for the NL MVP award, Lindor hurt his back on September 13 in Philadelphia and played just one inning in the next ten games before returning on September 27 in Milwaukee.
After two weeks of ups and downs on the road, the Mets were back in their home park on Tuesday for the first time since September 22. “I always felt confident that I was going to come back, but you never know,” Lindor said.
As a key player, Lindor helped the Mets reach this point and win two Division Series games in Queens.
Among his many important contributions, his tying homer in the ninth inning on September 11 in Toronto ended Bowden Francis’ no-hit bid and sparked a crucial Mets victory, while his go-ahead homer in the ninth on September 30 in Atlanta secured a postseason spot.
Lindor also battled back from a 1-2 count to earn an eight-pitch walk to start the ninth inning against All-Star closer Devin Williams last Thursday in Milwaukee, helping set up Pete Alonso’s go-ahead homer that saved New York’s season in the Wild Card Series clincher.
“I’m in a good place right now. I’m living the life I always wanted,” Lindor said.
After working hard with the athletic training staff for weeks to get back on the field, Lindor received a loud cheer during the formal introductions before Game 3. The “MVP! MVP!” chants began even before his name was called.
Then, in the first inning, fans at Citi Field sang along to “My Girl” as he came up to bat.
The switch-hitter hit a fly ball that went to the warning track in right-center.
“We’ve got to play well here otherwise we get booed here, too,” Lindor said before the game, making the reporters laugh.
His back injury made him familiar with new medical terms.
“There’s a couple of different ones, whether it’s names of injections or names of the L4, L5, S1, facet joints, all that stuff. I’m out here learning anatomy,” he said. “So it wasn’t a good process, but I guess it made me a little smarter.”
Lindor goes through a long pregame routine with athletic trainers to stay healthy enough to play, but he said he’s now “in a very good spot.”
“I can’t praise the trainers enough (for) how good they have done their job. It’s one of those where if I sit for too long and I get up, I feel it. But it’s not as bad,” Lindor said. “No one that’s playing baseball right now is playing pain-free. We all have something happening. My back, it’s in a much, much better spot. I’m not even thinking about it at this point.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned that the 30-year-old Lindor is not only “locked in,” but also “a lot more mature” and calm.
“He understands that it happens quick. Can’t get too high, can’t get too low,” Mendoza said. “He’s been in a lot of playoff games. He’s been in the World Series. And I think he’s enjoying it. I don’t think he’s probably expressing as much, but deep inside this is what he wants. This is what he wants not only for him but for the team and the organization. So, proud of him.”
