This week’s announcement of the Rawlings Gold Glove finalists left many scratching their heads at some notable omissions. Among the most surprising was the exclusion of New York Mets MVP contender Francisco Lindor, particularly when considering the inclusion of Juan Soto as a finalist in right field.
In response to this oversight, Lindor wasted no time in showcasing his remarkable skills on the field, making the snub seem utterly ridiculous.
During Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, the Mets found themselves trailing 2-0, partially due to some fielding errors. It appeared as if the Dodgers were starting to find their offensive rhythm. At that moment, Mookie Betts smashed a grounder toward the gap between Lindor’s shortstop position and third base.
As he has done throughout the season, Lindor displayed his exceptional defensive prowess, swiftly moving to his right to make an incredible play. Despite the ball being struck with an exit velocity exceeding 105 mph, he managed to not only snag it while falling but also made an impressive throw to first base, easily retiring Betts and minimizing the potential damage.
FRANCISCO LINDOR
ARE
YOU
KIDDING 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Hvt8jdpYo0— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2024
Lindor’s Web Gem Makes Gold Glove Snub Look Absurd
The crowd at Citi Field erupted in disbelief at Lindor’s extraordinary catch, and even Betts was left in awe. Considering Lindor’s recent exclusion from the Gold Glove finalists, his performance served as a pointed rebuke to Rawlings for this glaring oversight.
Beyond his highlight-reel moments, Lindor’s statistics also reinforce his candidacy. This season, he finished tied for second among MLB shortstops in Outs Above Average, racking up 16, just behind last year’s Gold Glove winner at shortstop, Dansby Swanson of the Cubs. Lindor consistently demonstrated his defensive excellence, making critical plays to keep his team competitive.
Unfortunately, while Lindor’s remarkable effort helped the Mets escape that particular inning, reliever Reed Garrett subsequently compounded their troubles by allowing a two-run homer to Kiké Hernandez, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning.
Nevertheless, Lindor cannot be blamed for this turn of events. Perhaps it’s time for the folks at Rawlings to reevaluate their criteria, because to me, that glove shines like gold.
