Francisco Lindor was pulled out of the Mets’ clubhouse before Friday’s game for what turned out to be a joyous surprise.
His wife, Katia, had arranged for Lindor’s mother to fly to New York to watch him play at Citi Field for the Mets for the first time. After they were reunited in the team’s press conference room just before 6 p.m. Field, the $341 million shortstop belted a three-run home run in his first at-bat to send the Mets on their way to a 10-4 win over the Marlins.
“I was very, very surprised,” Lindor said after the Mets’ 10-4 win over the Marlins. “After my team meeting, I saw my wife and she was very emotional and she said she was going to give me one of the greatest, happiest Father’s Day gifts.
“It fills my heart. I play the game for my mom and my family. … Just to see her here is a dream and a victory for my whole entire family.”
Francisco Lindor crushes a three-run homer in the first inning. Robert Sabo for the NY POST
Francisco Lindor was emotional after this three-run homer. Michelle Farsi/New York PostLindor’s mother, Maria Serrano. is confined to a wheelchair due to recent health problems stemming from a 2020 head injury. She flew to New York from Florida with one of Lindor’s sisters and her family. Another sister and her family also attended the game after arriving from Puerto Rico.
“She’s better for sure. She’s here, so that’s a good thing,” Lindor said. “We were all scared, and have been a little concerned about her flying. … For those of you that know me, my mom is the world to me.
“It’s been a long tough journey for her. She’s a true warrior. And to see her here, I’m just happy that she’s better. It gave me that extra little energy that I needed.”
Francisco Lindor and his family visit with his mom Maria Serrano before the Mets game against the Brewers. Courtesy of New York Mets
This was the first game Lindor’s mother saw him play as a Met. Courtesy of New York MetsLindor entered the game batting .163 with a .456 OPS over his previous 12 appearances. But with two runners aboard in the first inning, he rocked Miami starter Pablo Lopez’s 0-1 changeup next to the Home Run Apple in dead-center for his 10th homer of the season. He pointed to a suite where his family was situated and emphatically clapped his hands after crossing the plate.
“I’m a person that shows a lot of emotions but to run the bases and scream like that, there were a lot of things going through my mind,” said Lindor, who also was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth for a four-RBI night. “That to me was very special, to do that for the team and for my mom, for sure.”
