If the Mets had any doubts about Francisco Lindor’s long-term fit on this team, he is shattering them with his recent Grapefruit League play.
Lindor clubbed a grand slam Friday against the Cardinals in Port St. Lucie, Fla., going deep for the second time in three games. Since beginning Spring Training in an 0-for-7 skid with his new team, Lindor has gone 9-for-20 with the two home runs, both from the left side of the plate.
The latest came off Cardinals reliever Thomas Parsons, who grooved a 92-mph fastball over the inner half of the plate at Clover Park. Lindor pulled it just fair, tapping his chest as he made his way around the bases.
Power has been an important part of Lindor’s game since 2017, when he broke out with 33 homers for Cleveland. The following season, the switch-hitter set a new career high with 38 home runs, before clubbing 32 more in ’19. Lindor’s 105 homers as a shortstop since ’17 are tied with Colorado’s Trevor Story for the most in baseball.
Earlier this week, Lindor confirmed that he and the Mets are in active extension talks. He also set a hard deadline for those, saying he will not negotiate past the end of Spring Training.