Francisco Lindor isn’t himself on the plate proper now.
Mired in a career-worst 0-for-30 hitless streak, the Mets shortstop has been increasing the strike zone and putting out at unusually excessive charges by his typical requirements.
However Lindor stays himself within the dugout and within the clubhouse, in response to supervisor Carlos Mendoza.
“He’s so steady. It doesn’t matter whether he’s going 4-for-4, hitting walk-off homers, he’s going to be the same guy no matter what. It’s all about winning for him,” Mendoza stated after Tuesday night time’s 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Citi Subject.
“It’s how he engages on defense, with teammates, the conversations in the dugout, helping the younger guys, too, whether it’s approach, what he’s seeing from the pitchers. He’s pretty steady, and I haven’t seen any sign of any frustration.”
Earlier than Tuesday, when he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, Lindor had by no means gone by means of a hitless drought longer than the 0-for-27 slide he skilled in 2016 as a second-year participant with Cleveland.
Tuesday marked Lindor’s sixth consecutive hitless recreation, a stretch by which he struck out in 28.6% of his at-bats and swung at 35.3% of pitches out of the zone, in response to FanGraphs.
These numbers had been up from Lindor’s 17.4% strikeout proportion and 32.9% swing fee at pitches out of the zone by means of his first 94 video games.
“[He is] chasing at times from the left side,” Mendoza stated of the switch-hitter earlier than Tuesday’s recreation. “A little long with his swing. … When he’s at his best, he’s short [and] he’s using the whole field.”
Lindor batted .279 with 14 house runs and a .843 OPS by means of June 4, which is the day he suffered a damaged proper pinky toe on a hit-by-pitch.
The 31-year-old has continued to play, however Lindor entered Tuesday hitting .191 with 5 homers and a .585 OPS in 39 video games because the damage.
Requested if the foot was in charge for Lindor’s struggles, Mendoza stated, “You’ll ask him, and he’s gonna say no.”
“It’s hard for me to say, because he’s the one feeling it,” Mendoza stated. “But every time we check on him, he’s like, ‘I’m fine.’ He’s not going to make excuses.”
Total, Lindor — a five-time All-Star who began for the Nationwide League in final week’s All-Star Recreation — was hitting .245 with 19 house runs and a .744 OPS to start play Wednesday.
The longest hitless streak in Mets historical past occurred in 1997, when shortstop Rey Ordóñez went 0-for-37.
“The one thing with [Lindor], he’s too smart,” Mendoza stated. “He’s always watching film. He’s always talking to the hitting coaches. Yesterday, he was out there hitting early. He did it again today. It’s not the first time. It’s not going to be the last time, and he’ll get through it.”
Initially Printed: July 23, 2025 at 8:10 AM EDT
