MINNEAPOLIS — Francisco Lindor announced Wednesday he has received the “captain” title — even if it’s for a team other than the Mets.
The star shortstop wrote on Instagram that he has again been named the captain for Team Puerto Rico — reprising his role from 2023 — in next year’s World Baseball Classic.
“Honored to be captain of Team Puerto Rico for the 2026 World Baseball Classic PR Vamos mi borinquén!” Lindor posted.
Lindor has participated in each of the past two WBCs for Puerto Rico.
In his first appearance in the event, in 2017, he was named MVP of Pool D, in which Puerto Rico went 3-0. He was named to the All-WBC team following Puerto Rico’s loss to the U.S. in the championship game.
Team Puerto Rico’s last appearance in the WBC, before the 2023 season, had a direct effect on the Mets, who lost closer Edwin Díaz for the year to a torn patellar tendon.
Díaz sustained the injury during an on-field celebration in Miami, after Puerto Rico beat the Dominican Republic.
The Mets haven’t had an official team captain since David Wright’s retirement in 2018, but Lindor’s name has often arisen as a natural fit should the club decide to bestow the title on a player.
“I do feel like I am one of the leaders of the team,” Lindor said in spring training. “There’s a lot of leaders in there. The captain Francisco Lindor named Team Puerto Rico captain for 2026 World Baseball Classic is something that is not up for me to decide. If it does happen, fantastic, it would be an honor, it would be a privilege. It’s something that I would never take for granted — something that would put me next to the greats in this organization.”
