New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of Game 2 of a National League wild-card baseball playoff series, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (John Minchillo, AP)
Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor has been honored by his peers by being named the 2022 Marvin Miller Man of the Year. One of the MLBPA Players Choice awards, this one is given annually to the player who excelled on the field and in the community and is voted on by other players. Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers and Brent Suter of the Milwaukee Brewers were the other two nominees.
Lindor has long been active with the MLBPA as a representative with Cleveland, and he’s currently an alternate association player rep with the Mets. The Puerto Rico native is only the third Latin-American-born player to serve on the union’s executive subcommittee, following Carlos Villanueva and Elvis Andrus.
In his second season with the Mets, he became a valued clubhouse leader, helping guide the team through the highs and lows of a successful 101-win season. The culture of the clubhouse is important to Lindor as the Mets continue to build under new owner Steve Cohen, and the 28-year-old shortstop nicknamed “Mr. Smile” has been influential in helping foster positive change.
Lindor was one of the most valuable players on the field this season posting a 6.8 fWAR, the sixth-best in baseball and the fifth-best in the National League. He missed only a single game this season and slashed .270/.339/.449 with a .788 OPS and 26 home runs. Over the second half of the season, he was especially impactful, hitting .299 with a .830 OPS.
Off the field, Lindor has been active in helping with hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. When the island that many MLB players call home was hit by Hurricane Fiona in September, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation partnered with Team Rubicon and Global Empowerment Mission to aid with relief efforts. Lindor donated $50,000 to Team Rubicon and Mets owner and president of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, Alex Cohen, pledged to match the donation through the foundation.
Lindor has long been involved in mentoring young people through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs and his former school, Montverde Academy in Montverde Florida. Last year, and in 2021 he donated $1 million to Montverde Academy in Florida and established the Francisco Lindor Scholarship Fund.
The award has been given each year since 1997 and Lindor is the second Mets player to win, with retired outfielder Curtis Granderson winning his first of three Marvin Miller Man of the Year Awards in 2016.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service