Francisco Lindor Bio
Francisco Miguel Lindor Serrano, nicknamed Mr. Smile, is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on November 14, 1993, in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and began playing baseball at a young age. Lindor has previously played for the Cleveland Indians and is known for his elite defensive skills and strong hitting. He has earned multiple accolades, including five All-Star selections and two Gold Glove Awards, and continues to make an impact on the field with his performance.
Early Life and Background
Francisco Miguel Lindor Serrano was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on November 14, 1993, as the third of four children. His parents are Miguel Angel Lindor and Maria Serrano. Lindor began playing baseball at an early age, assisted by his father, who would hit him ground balls from the top of a hill while the younger Lindor stood partway down the slope, attempting to field them. Lindor’s favorite baseball players as a child were all middle infielders: Roberto Alomar, Omar Vizquel, Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins and Barry Larkin.
At the age of 12, Lindor moved to Central Florida with his father, stepmother, and youngest sibling, and was enrolled at Montverde Academy prep school. After he signed with the Cleveland Indians in August 2011, his mother and two older siblings joined him in Florida. The school’s baseball facility was named after him in 2013.
Path to Baseball
Lindor attended Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, and was named to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team. The Indians drafted Lindor in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2011 MLB draft. He had a full-ride scholarship offer in place with the Florida State Seminoles baseball team but chose to sign with the Indians for $2.9 million in August.
Lindor began his professional career with the Low-A New York–Penn League Mahoning Valley Scrappers during the 2011 season and appeared in four games. MLB.com rated Lindor as the 32nd best prospect in baseball before the 2012 season. He was assigned to the Lake County Captains of the Single-A Midwest League, and named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game. Between 2011-2015, Lindor progressed through the minor leagues, showing impressive hitting and defensive skills at each level.
Francisco Lindor Career
Early Career (2015-2016)
The Indians purchased Lindor’s contract from Columbus on June 14, 2015, and added him to the active roster. In his debut game, Lindor recorded his first major league hit. He finished the 2015 season with a .313 batting average, 12 home runs, 51 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and 22 doubles in 99 games for the Indians. He placed second in the AL Rookie of the Year Award voting.
In 2016, Lindor established himself as one of baseball’s premier players. He finished the season with a .301 batting average, 15 home runs, 78 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and 30 doubles in 158 games. Lindor led the Indians to a World Series appearance and earned his first All-Star selection and Gold Glove Award, becoming the first Puerto Rican shortstop to win the Gold Glove Award. In the 2016 MLB postseason, Lindor’s seven multi-hit games broke the record for most ever for a player less than 23 years old.
Cleveland Indians Breakthrough (2017-2020)
During his time with the Indians, Lindor emerged as one of baseball’s most dynamic players. In 2017, he batted .273 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs, earning his first Silver Slugger Award. Lindor won the first two AL Player of the Week Awards of his career in consecutive weeks of May 2018, leading MLB with 17 hits, 11 runs scored, and 33 total bases over eight games. He became the fourth player in history to produce at least two doubles and two home runs in a single game twice in one season.
In 2018, Lindor was selected to his third consecutive All-Star Game and won his second Silver Slugger Award in consecutive years. On July 10, 2018, Lindor scored his 80th run before the All-Star break, breaking the record for most by a Puerto Rican MLB player which was previously 79 runs in 1996 by Edgar Martínez. After the 2019 season, Lindor was again an All-Star and won his second Gold Glove Award at shortstop.
New York Mets Era (2021-Present)
On January 7, 2021, the Indians traded Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets. On March 31, 2021, the Mets and Lindor agreed to a 10-year, $341 million extension that would keep him with the team through 2031. Lindor finished the 2021 season batting .230 with 20 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and 63 RBI in 125 games played. In 2022, Lindor broke José Reyes’ Mets franchise record for the most RBIs recorded in a season by a shortstop, with 94 RBIs.
Lindor had a breakout season in 2023, joining the 30–30 club for the first time with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases. He became the fourth player in Mets history to accomplish the feat joining Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson, and David Wright. In 2024, Lindor played in 152 games for the Mets, batting .273 with 33 home runs, 29 stolen bases, 107 runs scored, and 91 RBI. In Game 4 of the 2024 NL Division Series, Lindor hit a grand slam off pitcher Carlos Estévez to lift the Mets to a 4–1 lead and propel them to the NL Championship Series.
Playing Style and Strengths
Lindor is known for his exceptional defensive skills as a shortstop and his ability to hit for both power and average. He is a switch hitter and throws right-handed. Lindor has demonstrated excellent speed on the basepaths, having joined the 30–30 club twice. His defense has consistently been among the best in baseball, earning him two Gold Glove Awards and multiple All-Star selections.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lindor has numerous career highlights, including becoming the third player in major league history to hit a grand slam in the postseason as a shortstop in Game 2 of the 2017 AL Division Series. In 2023, he became the first shortstop in MLB history to have a five-hit game that included two triples and at least one home run. Lindor has hit multiple grand slams in his career, including one in the 2024 postseason. He became the fourth MLB shortstop to join the 30–30 club and has achieved this milestone twice in his career.
Francisco Lindor Career Wins
Francisco Lindor has established himself as one of the premier shortstops in baseball through his consistent performance and numerous accolades. He has won multiple awards and set various records throughout his career.
MLB Highlights
Lindor has earned five All-Star selections (2016-2019, 2025), two Gold Glove Awards (2016, 2019), and four Silver Slugger Awards (2017, 2018, 2023, 2024). In 2016, he led the Indians to the World Series and won his first Gold Glove Award, becoming the first Puerto Rican shortstop to receive this honor. Lindor has joined the 30–30 club twice (2023, 2025), an exclusive club for players with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season.
International Accomplishments
Internationally, Lindor has represented Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. He was named the MVP of Pool D in the 2017 tournament and was selected to the 2017 All-WBC team. In 2023, he served as team captain and hit a memorable inside-the-park home run against the Dominican Republic, ensuring Puerto Rico’s advancement to the quarterfinals. Lindor was also selected to play for the 18U United States team in the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championship, where he was named to the All-IBAF Juniors Team at shortstop.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 2× 30-30 Club | 5× All-Star | Multiple |
Francisco Lindor Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Lindor comes from a baseball-loving family. His father, Miguel Angel Lindor, played a crucial role in developing his skills by hitting ground balls to him from a hill when he was young. While there isn’t a multi-generational baseball dynasty in Lindor’s family, he has become a role model for young Puerto Rican players. His success has inspired many young athletes in Puerto Rico to pursue baseball.
Personal Life
Lindor married his wife Katia (née Reguero) on December 16, 2021, in Miami, Florida. They have two daughters and one son. In September 2025, Katia performed the Star-Spangled Banner on the violin at a Mets game. She hosts the Unaparent podcast. In December 2025, the Lindors purchased an Upper East Side penthouse for $21.2 million.
2025 Season Performance
Francisco Lindor had another remarkable season in 2025, continuing his status as one of baseball’s elite players. He played in 160 games for the Mets, batting .267/.346/.466 with 31 home runs, 31 stolen bases, and 86 RBI. On July 2, Lindor was selected as the National League’s starting shortstop in the 2025 All-Star Game, marking his first selection as a Met and his fifth overall.
During the 2025 season, Lindor achieved several career milestones. On June 1, he passed Derek Jeter for the fourth most home runs by a shortstop in MLB history with 261 home runs. On July 12, he recorded his 200th career stolen base, becoming the third shortstop in MLB history with 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Lindor became the first MLB shortstop to have 5 seasons of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in his career and the first to have four separate seasons with at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Despite his individual success, the Mets faced challenges during the 2025 season. After the season, Lindor underwent a right elbow debridement procedure in October 2025. In February 2026, it was announced that Lindor would require surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone, which impacted his preparation for the 2026 season. Lindor had a slow start to 2026, batting just .167 with a .546 OPS in the first 15 games, though he did improve before suffering an injury in April.