Ranking Francisco Lindor's First 20 Mets Games Across 6 Seasons

The star shortstop has struggled to start the season, but this isn't his worst opening stretch with the Mets.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:00pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball player's batting stance, with sharp planes of blue and orange representing the Mets' colors. The abstract composition conveys the challenges Lindor has faced in finding his rhythm at the plate.A cubist interpretation of Francisco Lindor's batting form captures the star shortstop's struggles to find his swing early in the Mets' season.Queens Today

Francisco Lindor, the star shortstop of the New York Mets, is off to another slow start in 2026, hitting just .200 through his first 20 games. However, this is not Lindor's worst 20-game stretch to begin a season with the Mets. The article ranks Lindor's first 20 games in each of his six seasons with the Mets, from his best start in 2022 to his absolute worst in 2024.

Why it matters

Lindor's slow starts have been an ongoing issue for the Mets, who signed the shortstop to a massive $341 million contract in 2021. The team and its fans are hoping Lindor can turn things around and live up to his big contract, but his early-season struggles have contributed to the Mets' poor 7-13 record so far in 2026.

The details

Through his first 20 games in 2026, Lindor is hitting .200 with a .297 on-base percentage, 1 home run, and just 1 RBI. This ranks as the fourth-worst 20-game start of his Mets career. His best start came in 2022 when he hit .273 with 4 home runs and 13 RBIs, while his absolute worst was in 2024 when he hit just .181 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs.

  • Lindor is off to a slow start in the 2026 season.
  • The Mets have lost 9 games in a row, their longest losing streak in over 20 years.
  • Lindor was asked about putting more pressure on himself due to the Mets' poor start on April 11, 2026.

The players

Francisco Lindor

The star shortstop of the New York Mets, who signed a $341 million contract with the team in 2021. Lindor is known for his slow starts to the season, and this year is no exception as he is hitting just .200 through his first 20 games.

Carlos Mendoza

The Mets' manager, who made the dramatic move to shift Lindor to the leadoff spot in 2024 in an attempt to jumpstart his slow start that season.

Steve Cohen

The owner of the New York Mets, who signed Lindor to his massive contract extension and is surely hoping the star shortstop can turn things around and live up to the deal.

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What they’re saying

“There's always been pressure and I've always put a lot of pressure on myself because I expect a lot out of myself.”

— Francisco Lindor

What’s next

The Mets and their fans will be closely watching to see if Lindor can turn things around and start producing at the plate. If his struggles continue, it could put increasing pressure on the team and lead to potential lineup changes or other moves.

The takeaway

Francisco Lindor's slow starts have been an ongoing issue during his time with the Mets, and this year is no exception. While this isn't his absolute worst 20-game stretch to begin a season, his lack of production has contributed to the team's poor start. The Mets and their fans are hoping Lindor can turn things around and live up to the massive contract he signed in 2021.