Five days into Mets camp, and it’s already clear who the early birds are. While the rest of the position players aren’t due to report until Monday, Francisco Lindor has been here since day one, bouncing around camp with that trademark energy and a smile so bright it could guide planes into Palm Beach International.
Lindor met with the media on Saturday, and if you were looking for an early litmus test on how the Mets' star shortstop is feeling about the 2025 season, let’s just say he didn’t sound like a guy who spent the winter doomscrolling trade rumors.
“We’re going to have a different type of identity,” Lindor said when asked about how this year’s team will define itself. “But at the end of the day, it’s going to be a bunch of guys that are going to be held accountable, work as hard as they can, and play the game the right way.”
That was the theme of the day: accountability, preparation, and a little thing called winning. And if you think Lindor is about to undersell this team’s potential, you haven’t been paying attention. When reminded that last year, he predicted the Mets were a playoff team before most people believed it, Lindor doubled down.
“We have a really good team,” he said. “The opportunity that we have in front of us is amazing. Stearns, Steve, and Mendy did a fantastic job this offseason bringing in the right group of guys.”
One of those guys is Juan Soto, whose presence in a Mets uniform might still take some getting used to. Lindor, for one, is thrilled. “I’m excited,” he said. “I feel like I have a lot of things to learn from him, and he has a lot to learn, not just from me, but from a lot of guys here.”
If anyone in baseball was worried about Lindor slowing down after a deep playoff run, he quickly put that to rest. Rather than taking an extended break, he actually started his offseason work earlier. “The older you get, you take more time off, and it gets tougher to get back into rhythm,” he said, sounding suspiciously like a guy who just realized his ‘best shape of my life’ years might be behind him. “Instead of just taking a big break, I just kept moving. Jogging, ground balls, throwing, lifting – little things that add up.”
As for his availability? There’s no load management in Lindor’s vocabulary. “My goal is to be available as many times as I can,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in posting up, being there for the guys.” In other words, he’s still chasing 162 – with a little something extra tacked on in October.
Francisco Lindor enters the 2025 season with a determined mindset, ready to lead the Mets both on and off the field. While he doesn't officially hold the title of captain, his influence in the clubhouse is undeniable.
"I do feel like I'm one of the leaders of the team, but there's a lot of leaders in there," Lindor said. "A captain thing is something that is not up for me to decide. If it does happen, it'll be fantastic. It'll be an honor. It'll be a privilege, something I will never take for granted, something that will put me next to the greats of this organization forever, and it'll be very humbling."
Lindor emphasized that regardless of any official title, his responsibilities and approach would remain the same. "Just because I'm the captain doesn't mean I'm going to do more. I'm still going to go out there and hold guys accountable. I'm going to expect a lot out of myself, too. I expect guys, if they see me doing something that's not right, to come up to me and tell me as well, and to continue to lead, continue to play the game the right way, show up, post up, do whatever we got to do to win."
Since arriving in New York, Lindor has embraced the challenge of helping the Mets grow into a premier organization. "When I first came to this organization and Steve and Alex brought me out here, part of my job description was to help this organization become one of the best ones out there. I have that in the very front of my mind. To make this organization one of the best, you got to win. That's number one. But also, you got to do things the right way. You got to be accountable, and you have to respect your peers. You have to respect the game."
His commitment to the team extends beyond the field. "Even if God willing it doesn't happen, if I'm hurt, you still got to show up and do the things the right way and support my teammates. To win is not a one-man job."
While the decision on captaincy lies with the organization, Lindor made it clear that his leadership will not waver. "If the captain thing is presented to me, it'll be a very humbling experience. But that's not up to me. That's something that front office gets to decide, and I don't know who else gets to decide on that."
With or without an official title, Lindor is embracing his role as a leader, setting the tone for the Mets as they aim for success in the upcoming season.
Lindor was asked about Carlos Mendoza’s first season as Mets manager, and if he’s still the right guy for the job. “He’s consistent with his message, he’s consistent with his personality, and he’s as professional as they come,” Lindor said. Translation: Mendoza is no one-year wonder.
And then there’s the MVP race. Lindor finished second last year, a career-best showing that left him appreciative but still hungry. “It’s special, it’s humbling,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the goal is to be in the World Series and win it.”
That’s what this year is about. A potent lineup, a reloaded roster, and a shortstop who’s locked in from day one. Francisco Lindor has already arrived. Now, it’s time for the rest of the Mets to catch up.
Here is the complete press conference :
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