It was a special night at Citi Field on Friday, and Francisco Lindor made it historic with his walk-off homer that sent Mets fans home happy.
Yes, the longball catapulted the Mets to a 5-4 win after a seesaw battle with the Cardinals, but the home run was history-making in its own right. Not only was it Lindor’s first walk-off homer as a member of the Mets, but it was his 250th career home run. In doing so, he became the 254th player in major league history to reach that milestone, but he was the first to accomplish the feat with a walk-off.
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“That’s why he’s an elite player and a special player,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. “A moment is not too big for him. He lives for those moments and he came through for us again.”
“I gave it everything I had,” Lindor said of his home run before calling Friday’s game a “fantastic team win,” crediting everyone from starter David Peterson to the bullpen to the guys who put runs on the board (Tyrone Taylor, Juan Soto and Luis Torrens).
But while Friday showed how so many pieces helped the Mets win, the night was about Lindor.
“It’s a great number. It’s a number I never thought I was going to get to, as a little kid who just wanted to play baseball on TV so my mom and dad can watch me,” Lindor said. “It’s really cool. I’m blessed..a lot of good teammates that I had helped me and hitting coaches that helped me along the way. And to my dad that, who never thought I could hit. It’s good, it’s good.”
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“It takes a lot [to get to 250]. He’s been in the league for a long time, having success. It’s not easy, especially playing a premium position at an elite level,” Mendoza said of the accomplishment. “On top of that, you add the offense. Not just batting average, or hitting doubles but hitting for power. Not too many shortstops in the history of the game, there are only a few of them. We’re witnessing a special player and a special career here.”
Lindor is just the 19th active player to have 250-plus home runs, but to Mendoza’s point, he’s just the fifth shortstop EVER to reach that mark (minimum 60 percent of career games at shortstop).
Although his walk-off homer had Citi Field rocking and made history, Lindor says he didn’t even see it land. He just wanted to see his teammates.
“I kept my face in the dugout, with the guys,” he said. “Everyone was running wild like we’re all little kids.”
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That selfless and team-first attitude is why he’s the unofficial captain of the Mets. And his career will be defined not just by his accomplishments on the field, but off of it.
“There’s a lot that defines him. Not only moments like this but as soon as he gets to the ballpark, he influences people in a positive way,” Mendoza explains. “His presence, his interactions. The way he pushes people, encourages people. And not just players, but coaches, support staff, everyone in this building. His presence, you can feel it every time he’s around. I’m glad I have him.”
