Ask Pete Alonso what powered the New York Mets’ breakout 2024, and he won’t talk about his own paycheck or Shohei Ohtani’s MVP—he’ll talk about Francisco Lindor. The Mets’ slugger believes the real MVP might be wearing blue.
Pete Alonso Says Lindor’s Work Ethic Is the Real MVP
Lindor, nicknamed “Mr. Smile,” was acquired by the Mets from the Cleveland Guardians on January 7, 2021, along with pitcher Carlos Carrasco, in exchange for Amed Rosario, Andrés Giménez, Josh Wolf, and Isaiah Greene. The trade was a bold move by owner Steve Cohen.
In 2024, he delivered what many consider the greatest 162-game stretch of his career, finishing as the runner-up in National League MVP voting to Ohtani.
Alonso, who earns $54 million over two years, revealed that he believes the ‘secret formula’ behind Lindor’s surge is consistency, hard work, and an unrelenting drive to be the best every day.
In an interview with Gabe Lacques of USA TODAY Sports, Alonso stated, “That’s the miraculous thing—there’s no secret formula with him, no secret anything. His superpower is his consistency. It’s hard work, it’s dedication, and him willing to show up every day and have the internal drive to be the best player he can be every single day. And act on that internal feeling.”
Lindor himself provided insight into his growth during the same interview. Speaking to reporter Lacques, he said, “You gain knowledge. With knowledge comes maturity. There are life experiences that, for better or for worse, make you a much stronger person, a more genuine, more understanding human being. I have three kids. I have a beautiful wife. It’s something that you continue to learn as you go.”
Getting married to Katia in November 2021, welcoming their second daughter in June 2023, and looking forward to their first son in March 2025, his family life has helped him stay grounded, offering a viewpoint that softens the pressures of being a pro baseball player.
He further elaborated, “That means you gotta continue to learn, continue to work day in and day out. I truly believe that in life, if you work every single day and you try to get better and acquire knowledge every day, you can continue to peak.”
He had an amazing 2024 season, showcasing his skills both at the plate and in the field. He hit .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBIs, and swiped 29 bags, finishing with an OPS of .844.
MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola noted that the decision to move Lindor to the leadoff spot on May 18, 2024, was a turning point. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, “I put it out there, just wanted to give him a different look, wanted to get his take. The first thing he said was, ‘Yeah, when I first came up to the league, I hit leadoff.’ So we continued to have that conversation. The one thing that he said was, ‘If you want to do it, let’s give it a good look here.’ We didn’t want it to be a couple of games or a week or so. Let’s give it a run and see how it goes. And, man, he took off.”
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This choice led to a major shift for Lindor and the Mets. After a rough midseason, the Mets bounced back to finish with 89 wins, clinching a wild-card spot and taking down the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild-card series.