Mets’ Francisco Lindor Named National League All-Star Starter Ending 18-Year Drought

Francisco Lindor has been named the National League’s starting shortstop for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta, marking his first All-Star start and first selection as a Met, after winning the fan vote over Mookie Betts. While Lindor has had a solid year statistically, with a .255 average, 16 home runs, and 43 RBIs, many fans and analysts argue that Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz was more deserving, given his superior offensive numbers this season. The decision has sparked debate about the fairness of fan voting, with some calling for MLB to reconsider its All-Star selection process to avoid overlooking high-performing players. Lindor’s selection ends a personal drought, as he was previously snubbed despite strong performances, and he becomes only the third Mets shortstop ever to start in the All-Star Game. Meanwhile, Jose Ramirez of the Guardians and Gleyber Torres of the Tigers were also named as starters for the American League, with Torres notably leading all MLB second basemen in FanGraphs WAR. The full All-Star rosters, including pitchers and reserves, will be announced on July 6.