Quietly, New York Mets star Francisco Lindor had quite the bounce-back season in 2022.
In case you don’t remember, his first half in 2021 was rough: he was getting used to the bright lights of New York after being traded from the Cleveland Guardians.
He slumped, he was booed at his own stadium, and the Mets didn’t make the playoffs.
Lindor had a .734 OPS, his worst mark ever, but his excellent defense kept his Wins Above Replacement (WAR) output at a cool 4.2 anyway.
This year, he was very, very good.
With a .788 OPS stemming from an improved .270/.339/.449 line, the Puerto Rican shortstop had 26 home runs, scored 98 times, had 107 RBI, and even stole 16 bases.
He finished with 6.8 WAR, leading all MLB shortstops.
Mets fans, however, correctly pointed out the fact that despite his offensive and defensive achievements, Lindor was mostly snubbed from end-of-the-season awards.
“Francisco Lindor this season: 6.8 fWAR (1st among SS); 107 RBI (1st); 13 OAA (3rd); 26 HR (3rd); 98 R (3rd); 127 wRC+ (5th). No All-Star nod. Not Gold Glove. No Silver Slugger,” Mets Analytics tweeted.
Francisco Lindor this season:
🚪6.8 fWAR (1st among SS)
🚪107 RBI (1st)
🚪13 OAA (3rd)
🚪26 HR (3rd)
🚪98R (3rd)
🚪127 wRC+ (5th)No All-Star nod.
Not Gold Glove.
Not Silver Slugger.#LGM
— Mets Analytics (@MetsAnalytics) November 11, 2022
Lindor Didn’t Have Award Success This Year
Lindor just had the second-best season of his career when it comes to WAR, after his 7.8-WAR campaign in 2018.
It still wasn’t enough to captivate players, coaches, or fans enough for him to be voted as the winner of any of those awards.
If the All-Star Game was held after the season, with the final numbers, he may have made it this year.
He had a good case for both the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger.
It was just not meant to be, but that doesn’t make him a worse player.
Not even close.
He will have many more opportunities to win some hardware with the Mets, as his contract is still far from expiring.
