Friday night’s Mets-Rockies showdown gave fans a storybook finish and at the center of it? None other than Francisco Lindor—limping off the injury report and into Mets folklore.
It’s the top of the ninth. Tie game. Two outs. Two men on. The Mets are gasping for momentum like they’ve just climbed the Rocky Mountains in cleats. Enter Francisco Lindor, who hasn’t seen a single pitch in two days due to a fractured pinky toe. That’s right—a broken toe. A non-starter Thursday. Benched Friday. But when it mattered most, he didn’t just show up—he showed out.
The Situation: Mets Ninth Inning Pressure Cooker
Lindor steps in for Tyrone Taylor. And with all the drama you’d expect from a Broadway play, and he delivers. A two-pitch at-bat ends with a blistering double, sending Pete Alonso and Juan Soto sprinting home like it was Game 7 of the World Series. Two pitches. Two RBIs. And a broken toe.
Look, pinch-hitting isn’t just about physical readiness—it’s a psychological minefield. You’re cold. You haven’t seen live-action. You’re not even in the rhythm of the game. And yet Lindor did what elite players do: made something from absolutely nothing. It wasn’t flashy. It was clutch.
A Leader in Spikes (and Bandages)
This wasn’t just a hit. This was a statement. A reminder that Lindor’s leadership doesn’t clock out when his toe does. You could practically feel the shift in energy in that Mets dugout. The team didn’t just win 4-2—they rallied. That hit wasn’t about two runs. It was about momentum. About morale. About magic.
Will He Start Again on Saturday?
Now, the big question—does this mean he’s back in the starting lineup Saturday? That’s still up in the air. The Mets will likely weigh the long-term risk versus the immediate high. But let’s face it: if Lindor can turn two swings into two RBIs with a broken toe, there’s no telling what he can do fully laced up.
One thing’s for sure: don’t count out the guy with a broken toe and a clutch gene the size of Queens.
