Mets’ Francisco Lindor not letting All-Star snub be distraction as homer extends red-hot tear

Francisco Lindor won’t let any of it affect him.

The Mets’ star shortstop won’t let the abundance of criticism he often receives — undeserved, at times —bother him.

The Mets’ highest-paid player won’t let the lack of recognition he gets discourage him.

The Mets’ leader won’t let a rough patch affect his mentality.

Lindor’s drive comes from within.

He smacked a three-run home run to give the Mets breathing room in the eighth inning of their 7-3 win over the Rockies on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field to continue his red-hot stretch.

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“That’s a good question because I keep asking myself the same thing,” manager Carlos Mendoza said about Lindor’s lack of recent accolades. “I don’t think people appreciate or recognize what he brings to the baseball field, what he means to this team. Great player. He’s been doing it for a long time.

“Just the joy, the passion, the care, the willingness to continue to get better. He never stops. He’s always looking for ways to improve.”

Lindor, 30, was notably not named an All-Star last week.

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Notoriously a slow starter, Lindor struggled through a brutal April to begin the season and saw his batting average dip as low as .190.

But he picked it up in May, and has been red-hot since June .

Mendoza moved Lindor to the leadoff spot May 18, and he has flourished.

Entering Saturday, Lindor hit .296/.366/.517 with a .883 OPS in 49 games at the leadoff spot, and went 1-for-3 with two walks at the plate on Saturday.

For the season, he’s hitting .250/.324/.453 with a .777 OPS, 17 homers and 51 RBIs.

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In his four seasons with the Mets, Lindor has not yet been named an All-Star.

A Silver Slugger award in 2023 remains his only accolade with the team.

“I don’t need more motivation,” Lindor said. “To me, motivation is something that you try to find when you don’t really want to do things. I have the discipline to go out there day in and day out and do what I have to do, stay focused on my daily job. If people want to recognize me, great. If they don’t want to recognize me, it is what it is.”

Lindor’s homer Saturday extended the Mets’ lead to 7-3 after they saw their 4-0 lead shrink to 4-3.

The shot clocked 106.9 mph off Lindor’s bat and went 420 feet to dead center.

“That’s a special player, that’s a special person,” Mendoza said. “I’m just glad that I get to be able to watch him play shortstop for the New York Mets day in and day out.”

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