The pride and excellence of Francisco Lindor

Francisco Lindor plays shortstop as if fielding an extremely tough ground ball or turning a very difficult double play are extensions of his own body.

He makes the art of hitting, a grueling daily test even for seasoned professionals, appear as easy at times as it was for him to eat a piece of chocolate cake as a kid in his Caguas, Puerto Rico, hometown.

But this year, the Cleveland Indians’ All-Star shortstop has had probably one of the toughest experiences of his big league career. He had to sit out most of spring training and 19 regular season games because of injuries.

At only 25, Lindor dealt with this situation as he has everything else thrown at his path on his way to stardom.

“As an athlete, we understand that you may face situations like these,” Lindor said. “You have to keep yourself positive and focused on what you need to do every day. Thank God I’m healthy and trying to get better.”

It has to be a scary proposition for the rest of the American League that the switch-hitting shortstop could still improve on what he has already achieved.

In 2018, Lindor had career-highs in almost every offensive category as he became the first shortstop in major league history with at least 35 home runs, 40 doubles and 20 stolen bases.

Almost every day, he’s writing new and fantastic pages in the Indians’ franchise record books. Last season he became only the third player in team history with at least 120 runs, 40 doubles and 35 home runs in a season.

The only other two Indians players to accomplish that feat were bigtime sluggers Hal Trosky and Albert Belle in 1936 and 1995, respectively.

Lindor, who was chosen by the Indians with the eighth pick of the 2011 draft, is only in his fourth season as his team’s regular shortstop. In every one of his previous three, he had at least 600 at-bats, with more than 650 in both 2017 and 2018.

“One understands that when returning from an injury you need to catch up with the other players,” he said. “But you know that by the end of the day you’re not going to have the same plate appearances.”

Lindor, the 2015 American League Rookie of Year runner-up to fellow Boricua Carlos Correa, had more than 700 plate appearances in each of the last two seasons.

Catching up has not been a tough ordeal. In the second week of May he started an eight-game hitting streak, with 13 base hits in that period.

Everybody in the baseball world already knows that Lindor is a great all-around player. Now, he’s also respected for being a fighter. He showed that grit by how he prepared himself to return as soon as possible from injuries this year.

Lindor’s first setback was caused by a right calf strain he suffered Feb. 6. He was expected to miss seven to nine weeks, but he rehabbed and healed from that injury fast enough to get ready for the start of the regular season. Unfortunately, another injury ruined those hopes. A left ankle injury set him back, so he had to wait until April 20 to return to the Indians.

“I really thought I was going to be able to start the season with the team,” Lindor said. “It was not to be, because I got injured again. I knew I was going to lose a little more time. I only missed the first 15-20 games, not many if taking into consideration the length of the season.

“I think what you lose the fastest, [when injured] is the physical fitness. Swinging the bat, fielding, are things I’ve been doing for a long time. Swinging you don’t lose that much. Anyhow, even if you feel great swinging, you could lose it with 500 at bats. Those things happen. It’s part of the game.”

Indians manager Terry Francona is thrilled to have Lindor back in the lineup. The two-time World Series winner as the Boston Red Sox skipper is proud of his star shortstop.

Francona also credits the hard work that other members of the organization put in to get back on the field.

“He does work hard, but it’s not exclusive to Frankie, [our] guys get after it,” Francona said. “They don’t want to be hurt. There is a reason that [stellar starting pitcher Corey Kluber is] probably getting better faster. I’m around our guys. I see it. They almost will themselves to get better.”

Lindor’s return also means that the Indians are able to utilize one of the American League’s best offensive tandems: Lindor and Dominican third baseman José Ramírez.

“He and José together, they haven’t really got into midseason form yet, neither one of them, but they will,” Francona said. “They’re two of the better players in the game. What they’ve done together. The names [comparisons has been made], [Joe] DiMaggio, [Lou] Gehrig.”

Athletics manager Bob Melvin also has high praise for Lindor’s fantastic brand of baseball. In the only 2019 Indians series in Oakland, the Puerto Rican youngster got base hits as a leadoff hitter in every game.

“That guy [Lindor] is one of the elite players in the game,” Melvin said. “He hits. He hits for power. He hits for average. He plays great defense. He runs. Not too many [of the great recent shortstops] do everything he does. He’s clutch on top of it too.

“For a small-stature guy, he’s got a lot of power.”

Lindor has shown his excellence ever since he was a rookie in 2015, but the entire country got to see his talent on the biggest stage in 2016. He was a .296 hitter in the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. Then he hit .370 in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Lindor plays the game of baseball with excellence and pride. He knows that many kids back home look up to him, dreaming of someday playing just like the Muchacho from Caguas.

“It’s a matter of pride for me, my family, to represent Puerto Rico the right way,” Lindor said. “That’s the way it should be for one who has the opportunity to put on a professional organization uniform.”

Featured Image: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport