Francisco Lindor's paternity leave lasts 8 innings as he pinch hits after early-morning birth of daughter
Francisco Lindor #12 of the Mets looks on against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The latest example of Francisco Lindor’s commitment to winning came on Saturday.
His wife, Katia, delivered their second daughter at about 5:30 a.m.. Most players would take a couple of days and go on the MLB paternity list, but Lindor didn’t want to do that. Though he couldn’t talk manager Buck Showalter into writing him into the starting lineup, he was at Citi Field by game time and pinch hit in the ninth inning of the 5-3 loss to the Cardinals (getting drilled by a 102.2-mph fastball from Jordan Hicks).
“When my baby girl was born 5:30 in the morning, I knew that I had a chance of being in the lineup, so I wanted to be here,” Lindor said. “But I called Buck and said, ‘Whatever you think is best for the team.’ And he said, ‘You need to rest,’ and that’s why I didn’t start.”
At his pregame news conference, when Showalter wasn’t positive he’d see Lindor, he explained why he was set on giving Luis Guillorme the start at shortstop.
“He wants to play, but it’s probably not a good idea. He was up most of the night,” Showalter said of Lindor. “I know when you’re in his position, you’re going to be constantly critiqued. This guy? He is a post-up guy. He wants to play. He wants to set an example every day. He wants to be there for his teammates.”
Lindor, who is batting .211 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs, had played in every game. If he hadn’t pinch hit, it would have been the first game he missed since June 2, 2022, when he was sidelined by a finger injury.
The Mets were prepared if Lindor had opted for the paternity list. Showalter casually said the club could have a roster replacement in uniform before game time, but he opted not to reveal which player.
Lindor was absolutely beaming about the arrival of Amapola, which he said is a Spanish name for his favorite flower, the hibiscus.
“Tomorrow is Father’s Day, but I wish it was only Mother’s Day, to be honest,” Lindor said. “It’s incredible . . . everything that they do. It’s out of this world.”
Guillorme ready
Guillorme had been on standby for a couple of days and knew that with Lindor’s wife about to deliver, he would be getting the start Saturday. “He kept me in the loop,” Guillorme said.
Guillorme made a day of it, though it came in a loss. His two-run homer into the bullpen area in the fifth inning was his first of the season and moved the Mets within 4-3. He had a one-out double in the seventh but didn’t score the tying run from third when Jeff McNeil grounded out to end the inning.
Though he was a regular contributor a year ago, Guillorme has had fewer chances this season and was sent to Triple-A Syracuse on May 17. He played well there and was recalled June 9.
“Nobody ever wants to be in that position and I think I’ve proven in the past what I can do for this team,” he said. “Getting consistent at-bats. I’ve always said it makes life a lot easier. There were a few things that I felt down there getting consistent at-bats that I wasn’t getting here. So far I felt pretty good up here . . . It was good to contribute.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
