Mets droughts shortstop Francisco Lindor could help end in 2021

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JUPITER, FLORIDA – MARCH 01: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets makes the throw to first base for the out in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins in a spring training game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 01, 2021 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Is Lindor the next Mets Gold Glove winner?

The last time a Mets player won a Gold Glove was in 2014. It may not seem like a long time ago. However, with nine different positions, the team is long overdue for someone to claim this award.

Juan Lagares’ performance in 2014 earned him a National League Gold Glove as a center fielder. Each season since, every Mets player has failed to repeat what he was able to do.

Winning Gold Gloves has not been a specialty for the Mets. From the early days to their best years, defense has rarely been a priority.

Shortstop has been one of the few exceptions. From 1997-1999, Rey Ordonez won the award as a member of the orange and blue. In 1971, Bud Harrelson took one home as well.

Lindor’s defense is one of the more underrated parts of his game. His big bat is what gets the most attention. His glove deserves a little more credit.

Lindor has already taken home a pair of Gold Gloves. Won in 2016 and again in 2019, he may have been able to snag a few others if not for Andrelton Simmons—one of the better modern-era shortstops of all-time.

There are still some tough competitors for the award in the National League, but nothing Lindor cannot overcome. He has been a plus defender in each year of his career. In each of his six MLB seasons, he has finished with a fielding percentage higher than the league average. I know people in 2021 don’t care much about fielding percentage like they did in the olden days. It’s still one measure to understand how few errors this man makes.

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