- New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was honored as the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.
- Lindor’s wife, Katia, a classically trained violinist, performed the national anthem before the game.
- Wearing Roberto Clemente’s No. 21, Lindor hit a home run in the second inning.
It was a memorable night all the way around for New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and his family.
On the field before their Sept. 16 game against the San Diego Padres, the Mets honored Lindor as their nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. It marked the third consecutive year Lindor has been nominated for the award, which goes to the player who ‘best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.’
Lindor and his wife Katia have been actively involved in education programs, hurricane relief and environmental initiatives and just recently created a new charitable foundation.
To make the evening even more special, Katia Lindor, a classically trained violinist, performed the national anthem before the game – as the beaming shortstop watched alongside their three children.
That, in itself, would have been enough to make the evening special for the Lindors. But there was still a game to play.
Rising to the occasion and wearing Clemente’s No. 21 (instead of his usual No. 12), Lindor came to bat in the second inning of a crucial game in the thick of the playoff chase … and provided the exclamation point.
The Mets went on to an 8-3 victory over the Padres to keep them in position for the National League’s third wild-card playoff spot.
They’re four games behind second-place San Diego, and 1½ games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final playoff berth.
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