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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has been the most vital cog in the club's turnaround. This has prompted some to consider an NL MVP crown ahead of Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper.
Speaking on the New York Post Sports channel, the Mets insider Tyler Ward claimed that Lindor has been better than any other player in the NL. This includes Ohtani, the favorite to win the MVP and Harper, who is leading baseball's best team, the Phillies.
"Francisco Lindor leading the way as a true MVP candidate. Lindor has been the most vital player in the National League in the last two months over Shohei Ohtani, over Bryce Harper, over any other star you can think of," Ward said.
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Once 11 games behind the .500 PCT mark, the Mets are now above the Atlanta Braves in the NL East standings and are currently in contention to clinch the NL Wild Card spot. Much of that turnaround has been due to a strong offense.
Earlier in the season, Lindor was batting under the Mendoza line (.200 average) but a move to the leadoff spot has seen him register 42 RBIs, with a.298 average in 245 plate appearances.
Francisco Lindor's case for the National League MVP
Shohei Ohtani has been creating other-worldly numbers this season, at par with the Yankees' Aaron Judge and even better than his partner Juan Soto. Ohtani has 74 RBIs, including 31 home runs at an average of .315 and 25 stolen bases. In any other year, he'd have clearly won the MVP if he had gone on the mound once a week.
But as only a full-time DH and not a two-way star, Francisco Lindor's defensive numbers might give him a nod in the MVP race. Lindor has nine outs above average this season, which puts him within the 97 percentile in all of the league's eligible shortstops. He currently has a league fielding percentage of .973.
If Lindor can keep up this pace, his work ethic at the shortstop might be recognized as an important attribute in determining the National League MVP.
