Francisco Lindor embraces more traditional leadoff role for the NY Mets in 2025

Francisco Lindor moving into the leadoff was a game-changer for the New York Mets in 2024. Marred by one of the worst slumps of his career, Carlos Mendoza moved Lindor into the leadoff spot to try and shake things up. This worked like a charm, as Lindor completely turned his season around. In 109 games at the top of the lineup, he slashed .303/.374/.552 with 26 home runs and 71 RBIs.

Due to the turnaround of Lindor's performance, he's a lock to be in the leadoff spot again in 2025. While this is not something many expected when he was acquired in 2021, if he puts up MVP numbers no one will care. It's not just fans who have embraced this new role but Lindor as well.

How Francisco Lindor looks to become a traditional leadoff hitter

In a recent interview done by MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Lindor talked about the lineup and the upcoming season. Lindor said "With the guys we have behind me, I better have good hamstrings in a good spot to run." He also said, "My goal is to get 90% or 95% more stolen bases."

In other words, with the guys behind him in the lineup, Lindor is focusing on using his speed more and trying to steal more bases. This is something that he seems confident in, and he has been working more on it. When you set the goals as high as Lindor has, you can assume this is something that he's been working on throughout the offseason.

Now, stealing bases hasn't always been a part of Lindor's game. Throughout his career, he's averaged 18.5 stolen bases per season. A decent number, but you wouldn't consider him a base stealer. However, that has changed over the past two seasons. In 2023, he stole 31 bases, the first time he stole over 30 bags in a season. Then, in 2024, he came up just short of back-to-back 30 stolen base season with 29.

This interview signals that Lindor wants to add more to his game. Sure, he'll continue to be the guy all-around good hitter and defender, but he plans to add stolen bases. Something accustomed for leadoff hitters to do. Traditionally, you put your fastest guy in the leadoff spot so he can get on first, then steal second. Guys like Rickey Henderson and Lou Brock, who built their career off stealing bases, lived in the leadoff spot.

If Lindor is able to make stealing bases a bigger part of his game, it'll only add more versatility to the Mets lineup. Outside of Starling Marte, there is not much speed in this Mets lineup. Sure, there are fast guys in the lineup, but no one makes it a main part of their game like Marte does. No one you can constantly rely on to swipe a bag late in games. If Lindor can add the amount of stolen bases he hopes to, he'll become the threat the Mets are missing.

While the hope is for Lindor to continue to be the hitter he has been, adding more stolen bases will only make him a better ball player.