WATCH: Francisco Lindor receives standing ovation from Guardians fans as All-Star makes return to Cleveland
On Monday night, Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets kicked off their series against the Cleveland Guardians. During the All-Star shortstop's first at-bat, the Cleveland crowd decided to give Lindor a standing ovation. The applause came as the shortstop made his first appearance at the stadium since being traded to the Mets prior to the 2021 season.
"A warm welcome for Francisco Lindor in his return to Cleveland" - @TalkinBaseball_
The Cleveland Guardians selected Francisco Lindor with the 8th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft behind the likes of Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, and Trevor Bauer. The talented shortstop burst onto the scene with the Guardians in 2015, finishing second in American League Rookie of the Year Award voting, ultimately losing to fellow shortstop Carlos Correa.
Although Francisco Lindor was unable to guide the Cleveland Guardians to a World Series title, he blossomed into a true superstar with the club. Over his six seasons with the Guardians, Lindor earned four All-Star selections, two Gold Glove Awards, and two Silver Slugger Awards.
It's touching to see the Cleveland fanbase honor their former superstar, even though he is playing for the New York Mets. This is not always the case as a number of stars have faced backlash during their return to their former team.
The Cleveland Guardians traded Francisco Lindor before the 2021 campaign
Prior to the 2021 season, the Cleveland Guardians traded both Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets in exchange for Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez, Josh Wolf, and Isaiah Greene. Soon after landing with the Mets, the shortstop agreed to terms on a lucrative 10-year, $341,000,000 extension to remain in New York.
"Francisco Lindor returns to Cleveland for the first time since the January 2021 trade that sent him to New York. #ForTheLand" - @BallySportsCLE
The results have been mixed for Lindor and the New York Mets since the blockbuster trade. After being viewed as a legitimate World Series contender before the 2023 regular season, the squad fell flat, resulting in the Mets unloading a number of veterans such as Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Entering Monday's game in Cleveland, the New York Mets sit 3rd in the NL East with a 21-25 record. If the team is unable to turn things around and climb the standings, Lindor could see more roster shakeups before the end of the season.