OAKLAND, Calif. — Francisco Lindor has been impressed by the big year the cleanup hitter behind him in the Mets’ lineup is enjoying, but expects even more from him in future seasons.
Pete Alonso blasted his 38th home run on Saturday and increased his NL-leading RBI total to 123. Before that occurred, in a 10-4 loss to the Athletics, Lindor was asked by The Post to evaluate Alonso’s season. Alonso owns a .265/.345/.510 slash line.
“Really good year, but I don’t think it’s his best year yet,” Lindor said. “I think he is going to have a few more years that are way better than this one. This year he is driving in a lot of runs and he’s got a good amount of home runs, but I think he’s got years like Aaron Judge, as he gets older in the game and understands himself a little more, he’s going to have really good years.
“Next year without the shift his batting average is going to go up even more, so he is going to have better years to come. I am happy. He is having a really good year this year, but he hasn’t sniffed his best year yet.”
Judge is competing for a Triple Crown this season with the Yankees as he pursues Roger Maris’ American League record of 61 homers. Judge has hit 60 homers.
Alonso is sometimes compared to Judge because he broke Judge’s rookie record by smashing 53 homers in 2019. That total also established a Mets’ single-season record. Last season, Alonso finished with 37 homers.
On Saturday, Alonso also moved within one RBI of the Mets’ single-season record, shared by Mike Piazza and David Wright.
Judge’s pursuit of history has captivated a huge audience, Lindor included.
“I have seen highlights every day,” Lindor said. “I am a fan of the game and I am a fan of Aaron Judge and [Shohei] Ohtani as well. At first I had Ohtani as MVP, but right now it’s getting to a real fun spot for both of them. I don’t want to put any MVPs out there; that is not my job. My job is to play the game, but it’s been fun to watch them both.”
Lindor said he’s glad he doesn’t have to vote for the MVP award.
“What Judge is doing and Ohtani is doing, it’s fun for the game,” Lindor said. “I appreciate what they do and admire it. I know I can’t do what they are doing. I don’t think I have got 60 [homers] in my body. I might have 40, but I don’t think I have 60 in my system.”
