MIAMI — The timing couldn’t have been better for Francisco Lindor and the Mets.
The shortstop and his wife, Katia, welcomed their third child Sunday, a boy named Koa. All weekend in Houston, the Mets and Lindor were on alert, but Katia had yet to deliver by the time the team arrived in Miami late Saturday night, allowing Lindor time to get to the family’s Orlando-area home.
Lindor landed, got in a car home, and Sunday afternoon with the Mets enjoying a scheduled off day, Koa was born.
However, much like two years when their second daughter, Amapola, was born, Lindor declined to go on the paternity list. The Mets expect to have him off the bench Monday night when they open their first NL East series of the season against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.
“Talked to him yesterday when we got the news, everyone’s doing well, and then I knew right away he wanted to be here,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “I said, ‘Take your time.’ And he said, ‘I’ll give you a call later on tonight,’ which he did, and he said, ‘I’m not sure what kind of night we’re going to have tonight, but I’ll be there tomorrow.’ So I’m expecting him to be here at some point and be a player for us if we need him.”
So much for convincing Lindor to take a few days off. Before spring training, Mendoza came to Lindor about trying to map out a plan for playing time. Lindor countered with his own plan, which basically is just playing every day he’s healthy.
“It’s nothing new to us,” Mendoza said. “This is a guy that wants to be here, wants to show up and wants to perform, and wants to help the team. Even when his wife is having a new baby, he’s still thinking about the team. That’s who he is. He’s a leader, a special person, special guy, special player.”
Starling Marte took Lindor’s spot at the top of the order. The Mets chose to have the right-handed DH start against Cal Quantrill because of the right-hander’s splits against left-handed hitters. Luisangel Acuña made his first start of the season at shortstop and batting eighth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Right-hander Paul Blackburn (sore right knee) played catch Monday in Miami. He came off the field with no noticeable limp and appeared fine. He’s eligible to be reinstated from the 14-day injured list April 10.
Right-hander Dedniel Nuñez (elbow) pitched in Triple-A Syracuse, throwing one inning plus a fourth batter for two ups. The plan is to give him three days off, then have him get up and down twice again in his next outing, then get two days off with two ups. He allowed one earned run on hit and struck out two against Worcester.
