Francisco Lindor probably won’t win the NL Silver Slugger at shortstop. An honor he took home in 2023 and 2024, his biggest rival at shortstop in the league feels more worthy this season. Despite being in a team rivalry with Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets shortstop feels like a personal yet friendly rivalry is brewing with the third Silver Slugger finalist.
Geraldo Perdomo of the Arizona Diamondbacks had an explosive season. He set multiple career highs, including 20 home runs and 100 RBI. His outrageous .851 OPS beat even what Lindor posted in 2024 as the NL MVP runner-up. He was at .844.
Perdomo became a recognizable name to Mets fans when he was selected to the 2023 NL All-Star Game as a replacement over Lindor. Perdomo had only 5 home runs and a .787 OPS. Lindor had 19 dingers and a .798 OPS. It made little less, but seemed to ignite a little bit of a fun rivalry we shouldn’t forget.
Francisco Lindor and Geraldo Perdomo face-off again, this time for the NL Silver Slugger
Looking at the two’s numbers side-by-side, Perdomo feels like the more deserving Silver Slugger winner this year. Lindor had more power but Perdomo was better just about everywhere else. He hit .290. He had a league-best 7 bWAR. In a huge down year for Lindor defensively, Perdomo even overtook him there. At least the Silver Slugger doesn’t consider this.
Some history repeated itself slightly this year but in reverse. Lindor was voted the NL All-Star starter at shortstop. Perdomo was completely left off of the roster. Their first-half numbers weren’t incredibly different. Lindor’s .787 OPS (the same Perdomo had in 2023 at the break) wasn’t all that much greater than the .783 posted by Perdomo for the Diamondbacks. Perdomo had a slightly better batting average by 5 points and an OBP of .370 which far exceeded the .330 posted by Lindor. Power was the difference with Lindor homering 19 times. Perdomo had 10 round-trippers.
Perdomo won’t run away with the NL Silver Slugger this year and a case could be made for Lindor who had more total bases thanks to his 11 extra home runs. Whoever comes away as the winner, it seems to add another layer to this rivalry.
Of course, Turner has a case of his own. He led the league batting .304. Just 15 home runs and 69 RBI, one would think the voters would favor Lindor or Perdomo. It feels like this time in their rivalry, it’s Perdomo’s turn for the win.
