Hitting a brutal 87 wRC+ since his return from the injured list, Francisco Lindor's 2026 season has been an absolute nightmare, and it's happening while the Mets are reportedly trudging through one of their worst seasons in franchise history. You can feel the frustration building, no doubt about it. Lindor was sidelined right at the start of the year, missing the World Baseball Classic and then getting off to a predictably slow start.
The Injury Bug Bit Hard, And It Keeps Biting
This isn't just a slump; it's been a total battle against bad luck. Lindor just started to find his rhythm at the plate when a calf injury struck on April 22 against the Twins. Talk about rotten timing! Juan Soto actually returned from his own calf issue in that very same game. Soto was only out for three weeks, but Lindor? He was gone for two whole months between major league appearances. And get this: the Mets' rehab plan had him playing in only three minor league games, one in Double-A and two in Triple-A, before throwing him back into the big league grind. That's a pretty quick ramp-up after such a long layoff, and his numbers show it. Before that calf injury, he posted a 91 wRC+ from Opening Day, which wasn't exactly tearing it up. But an 87 wRC+ since his return up to the All-Star break? That's a gut punch.Remember The Monster He Used To Be?
It's easy to get caught up in the current struggles, especially when your team is drowning, but you absolutely cannot forget who Francisco Lindor is. This guy has been an all-timer for the Mets! In his first five seasons with the club, Lindor racked up four of the top 31 seasons by a position player in franchise history by fWAR. His 2024 season, a ridiculous 7.7 fWAR, has only been topped three times in Mets history. We're talking legendary stuff like David Wright's 8.4 fWAR in 2007, John Olerud's 8.1 fWAR in 1998, and Carlos Beltrán's 7.8 fWAR in 2006. Even his 6.4 fWAR in 2022 ranks 15th, his 6.3 fWAR in 2025 is 17th, and his 5.5 fWAR in 2023 sits at 31st. Seriously, only David Wright and José Reyes have matched Lindor with four seasons in that top 31. This isn't just Mets royalty, either. Since the start of 2021, Lindor has been the sixth-best position player in ALL of baseball with 30.4 fWAR. He is right there with names like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, José Ramírez, and Bobby Witt Jr. If he hadn't been hurt, he probably would be ahead of Witt right now, maybe even battling Ramírez and Soto.Don't Write Him Off Yet
At 32 years old, it's totally premature to assume Lindor is hitting a production cliff. The numbers scream elite talent, and frankly, a few months of injury and poor performance don't erase that. FanGraphs' projection systems are even backing it up, seeing the rest of his 2026 season looking a lot like his 2025, which means hitting significantly above league average. So yeah, it's been ugly, but this is Francisco Lindor we're talking about. This guy's a beast. You better believe he's got more left in the tank. Keep an eye on those upcoming games; if those projections are right, we could see the real Lindor emerge and try to salvage something from this wild season.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.