Inside The Mets

John Franco on why the Mets should name Francisco Lindor their next team captain

Former Mets closer and captain John Franco wants to see Francisco Lindor become just the fifth team captain in franchise history.

Logan VanDine

Feb 24, 2025; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws to first base and retires St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (not pictured) during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Feb 24, 2025; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws to first base and retires St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (not pictured) during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Being named team captain of the New York Mets is a very rare occurrence, as only four players have ever been given that title in franchise history.

Now that Francisco Lindor is entering his fifth season with the Mets, there has been some chatter that he should be named the fifth team captain in team history due to his leadership on and off the field for New York.

Even though there has been no public talk about that possibility from owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns, Lindor received the blessing from one of the Mets' former team captains.

Speaking exclusively with SNY's Andy Martino, former Mets closer and team captain John Franco made it clear to Lindor on Tuesday that he should be a part of that rare list.

“I want to see you get that ‘C’ on your chest," Franco told Lindor.

Despite Lindor not being officially named captain of the Amazin's just yet, Franco told Martino that he still sees a team captain in the 31-year-old due to the consistent leadership he has provided since arriving in Flushing four years ago.

“He’s the unofficial captain anyways,” Franco told SNY. “There is leadership with the way he presents himself on the field — and off the field. When he was going bad, he had the same demeanor, the same approach.

“And the way he gets to know the younger players and talks to them, almost like teaching. I see him talking with the young guys and hitting, fielding, even the pitching. There are leadership qualities in the way he presents himself.”

Read More: Mets' Carlos Mendoza on if he sees Francisco Lindor being named team captain

When Franco was named team captain before the 2001 season, it was a role he took seriously throughout his four years being the leader.

“As a captain, if a guy was struggling, I would go up and talk to him, see how he’s doing,” Franco said. “If the guy was doing something he shouldn’t have been doing, I would say, ‘Listen, you can tell me to mind my own business, but here is what I see. Take it for what you will. But why don’t you listen to what I have to say?’

“If somebody had a problem in the locker room, I would talk to him or the other guy. Or I would talk to coaches about certain players. Off the field you always would bring the guys to dinner or get together for a movie. And I see those qualities in [Lindor]. And he’s always smiling. The thing I love about him, he goes 0-for-4 but he makes three great plays in the field. It’s that same even keel.”

Franco spent 14 of the 21 seasons of his big league career with the Mets and earned the title of team captain in 2001-2004. The other three team captains include first baseman Keith Hernandez from 1987-1989, followed by catcher Gary Carter, who became co-captain with Hernandez from 1988-1989; most recently, third baseman David Wright served the role from 2013 until his retirement in 2018.

Lindor certainly has the accolades to be a team captain for the Mets this season and beyond, as the All-Star has solidified himself as one of the best shortstops in franchise history.

Over his first four seasons with the Mets, Lindor has slashed .259/.336/.461 with a .797 OPS, 110 home runs, 359 RBI, and 386 runs scored in 598 games. He also became just the fourth Met in franchise history to have a 30-30 season (which he accomplished in 2023), and is currently the Mets' all-time leader in home runs by a shortstop.

For now, it remains to be unseen whether or not Lindor will be the fifth team captain in franchise history. But Franco has made it clear why he deserves to be on that exclusive list.

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Logan VanDine
LOGAN VANDINE

Logan VanDine is a contributing writer for On SI's Mets. Logan is a graduate of Rider University where he majored in Sports Media and minored in Sports Studies. During his time at Rider, Logan worked for Rider's radio station, 107.7 The Bronc as a sports host, producer and broadcaster, and for the school's paper: The Rider News. He began his time with The Rider News as a section writer for sports and was a copy editor for two years followed by being one of the sports editors during his senior year. Logan also placed third in the New Jersey Press Foundation Awards for sports feature writing. Aside from his work at On SI, he is also a writer for FanSided covering the New York Giants and Mets and also covers the Giants for Total Apex Sports. Give him a follow on X: @VandineLogan

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