Lindor: Clemente nod a privilege and an honor

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

From November through February, it is generally not difficult to find Francisco Lindor. Travel down to Montverde, Fla., just west of Orlando. Look for the building with the shortstop’s name on it -- Lindor Hall. Chances are, Lindor will be inside at the weight room, or on the adjacent baseball field hitting or taking grounders.

“The baseball program sees me every day,” Lindor said. “The softball girls see me a lot. And then the track and soccer kids, they see me here and there whenever I’m around that area.”

In part because of the time and money he has donated to his alma mater, Lindor just earned his first nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award -- Major League Baseball’s highest off-field honor, which is focused on philanthropy. Lindor is one of 30 finalists for the 2023 award, which will be presented during the World Series.

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It’s a particularly impactful honor for Lindor, a native Puerto Rican who grew up admiring Clemente and learning about his legacy.

“It brings happiness,” Lindor said. “It brings a lot of pride. Whenever I can get mentioned next to him or somewhat near him, to me it’s a privilege and an honor.”

Among the shortstop’s many charitable efforts is Lindor Hall, a two-story middle school building at Montverde Academy featuring 14 classrooms, three science laboratories, a technology library, a conference room, a study hall, a teacher’s lounge and an administrative space, as well as 12,711 square feet of athletic space that holds physical education classes, sporting events, assemblies, dances and robotics competitions. Lindor donated $1 million to the effort.

“It’s really cool because I could only imagine when I was in school to go to a facility that was so equipped,” Lindor said. “They have even a cafeteria, they have a basketball court in there. They have all kinds of stuff. It’s pretty cool to have it all in one building.”

In addition to Lindor Hall, the shortstop created the Lindor Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to underprivileged students. Back in Puerto Rico, he donated funds to help a high school in Caguas reinstate its sports program and refurbish playing fields damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Disaster relief has been a focal point for Lindor, who also pledged $50,000 in the wake of Hurricane Fiona last year. (Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen matched that donation.)

Lindor does not do this for the recognition, but an award with Clemente’s name on it is something he would eagerly accept. As a young player in Cleveland, Lindor watched from afar as teammate Carlos Carrasco won the Clemente Award for his own philanthropic efforts. From the moment he came into the league, Lindor hoped to do enough over time to earn consideration for the same honor.

“From Day 1 in the big leagues, I always wanted to win that award,” Lindor said. “I always wanted to be part of that award. I didn’t really understand it, but once I see Carrasco doing great things in Cleveland and then winning the award, it’s like, oh, this is what it’s like to be a good teammate. This is what it’s like to be a good person and a good citizen. … There’s not that many awards that I dream of, but this is one that I would definitely like to get.”