Jun 29, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) in the on-deck circle against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Francisco Lindor’s return is nigh.
The Mets’ star shortstop is on a rehab assignment in Triple-A Syracuse, which is the final step before rejoining the big-league club for the first time since April 22, when he suffered a strained calf.
The importance of his return does not really need to be dissected. New York gets their leading man back and restores order to an infield that forced Bo Bichette to slot over from third base, and gets one of their most valuable bats back.
But where does that bat go when it is finally available?
Lindor has largely been the Mets’ lead-off man for years, but the top of the Mets’ lineup is clicking — something that cannot be said for the other 90% of the roster.
Carson Benge is thriving as the lead-off man. Since moving to that spot full-time on May 12 (36 games), he is batting .294 with five home runs and 12 RBI.
Bichette has been red-hot of late in the No. 2 spot, batting .441 with a 1.150 OPS, two home runs, and eight RBI in his last eight games.
Juan Soto has been, well, Juan Soto. He has inhabited the No. 3 spot of the Mets’ lineup in each of the last 34 games, and he’s slashing .328/.421/.664 (1.085 OPS) with 13 home runs and 28 RBI. That’s a 162-game pace of 61 home runs and 133 RBI, so no need to disturb that pace.
Putting Lindor in the clean-up spot is not the most traditional option, but his bat is certainly an upgrade from anything else the Mets currently have. Jared Young was a decent stopgap upon his initial return from a torn meniscus, but he has slowed down significantly over the last week.
In a decade-plus career, Lindor has only appeared in the No. 4 spot of a lineup in 28 games, but has a .293 average and an .896 OPS with five home runs and 16 RBI. That is the highest average and OPS among any batting-order position he has appeared in (minimum 10 at-bats).
For more on Francisco Lindor and the Mets, visit AMNY.com
