Francisco Lindor

Francisco Miguel Lindor Serrano (born November 14, 1993), nicknamed "Mr. Smile", is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He previously played for the Cleveland Indians.

A right-handed thrower and switch hitter, Lindor stands 5 ft and weighs 190 lb.

Lindor batted over .300 in both his first two major league seasons and provided elite defense.

Lindor was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on November 14, 1993, the third of four children of Miguel Angel Lindor and Maria Serrano.

He began playing baseball at a young age, assisted by his father, who would hit him ground balls from the top of a hill while the younger Lindor stood partway down the slope, attempting to field them.

Lindor's favorite baseball players as a child were all middle infielders: Robbie Alomar, Omar Vizquel, Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins and Barry Larkin.

Lindor moved to Central Florida at the age of 12, with his father, stepmother and youngest sibling, and was enrolled at the Montverde Academy prep school.

He became the Indians' first round selection, and eighth overall, in the 2011 MLB draft.

After he signed with the Cleveland Indians in August 2011, his mother and two older siblings joined him in Florida.

Lindor attended Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida.

The Indians drafted Lindor in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2011 MLB draft.

He had a full-ride scholarship offer in place with the Florida State Seminoles baseball team, but chose to sign with the Indians for $2.9 million in August.

In September, Lindor was drafted by the Indios de Mayagüez in the second round of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente's (LBPRC) first year draft.

However, he has been unable to play there due to Cleveland's intervention.

Lindor began his professional career with the Short-Season A New York-Penn League Mahoning Valley Scrappers during the 2011 season and appeared in four games.

In the minor leagues, he participated in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game, and by 2013, was rated by Baseball America as the Indians' top overall prospect.

MLB.com rated Lindor as the 32nd best prospect in baseball before the 2012 season.

He was assigned to the Lake County Captains of the Class A Midwest League, and named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.

In 122 games for Lake County, Lindor had a .257 batting average with six home runs, 42 RBIs, 33 extra-base hits and 27 stolen bases.

Prior to the 2012 season, Baseball America ranked him as the Indians top prospect.

The school's baseball facility was named after him in 2013.

He was named to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team.

Lindor started the 2013 season with the Carolina Mudcats of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League.

He was promoted to the Akron Aeros of the Class AA Eastern League on July 15, 2013.

Between the two levels, Lindor batted .303 with two home runs, 34 RBIs, 31 extra-base hits, and 25 stolen bases in 104 games.

On May 7, 2014, the Indios de Mayagüez traded Lindor's LBPRC player rights to the Gigantes de Carolina in exchange for Carlos Correa.

However, only two weeks later the Cangrejeros de Santurce signed him by exploiting a legal loophole declaring that any player that has not been officially contracted within three years after being drafted is considered a free agent.

Lindor began the 2014 season with Akron.

The Indians promoted Lindor to the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League on July 21, 2014.

In 126 games between the two clubs, he batted .276 with 11 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases.

He placed second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2015 and was a selection to the 2017 All-WBC Team.

In 2023, he joined the 30–30 club.

Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Lindor began playing baseball at an early age, and he moved with his family to Florida when he was 12.

Lindor began the 2015 season with Columbus.

The Indians purchased Lindor's contract from Columbus on June 14, 2015 and added him to the active roster.

In 59 games for Columbus prior to his promotion, he was batting .284 with two home runs and 22 RBIs.

He made his debut with the Indians that day as a pinch hitter.

In 2016, he earned his first All-Star selection and Gold Glove Award, becoming the first Puerto Rican shortstop to win the Gold Glove Award.

He won his first Silver Slugger Award in 2017.