Francisco Lindor is having an outstanding season with the New York Mets and received recognition from the team this week for achieving a significant career milestone.
Having just completed ten years in Major League Baseball, Lindor reached a major and rewarding benchmark. The Mets celebrated the occasion, and his teammates commended his leadership both on and off the field.
Francisco Lindor’s Decade in the Majors
New York Post reporter Mike Puma shared on X that the Mets recently held a ceremony to recognize Francisco Lindor for reaching a major career achievement.
"We have a duty of doing things the right way for the people that are coming after us." – Francisco Lindor on player leadership and paving the way for the next generation
Today, Francisco reaches yet another career milestone: 10 Years of Service Time. Congratulations,… pic.twitter.com/GApU0kcE3Y
— MLBPA (@MLBPA) May 24, 2025
“Francisco Lindor was congratulated pregame for reaching 10 years of service time. … He’s now fully vested in the MLB pension plan,” Puma reported.
With this milestone, Lindor qualifies for the maximum MLB pension benefit, which pays out \$275,000 annually if taken at age 62. Lindor, who became the highest-paid player in Mets history with a 10-year, \$341 million contract (a mark later surpassed by Juan Soto’s \$765 million deal), received praise not only from the Mets but also from the MLB Players Association, which commended his leadership in a social media tribute.
Lindor made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Cleveland Indians, where he spent his first six seasons and helped lead the team to the World Series before being traded to the Mets in 2021.
Francisco Lindor Getting Loose in Queens
Francisco Lindor admitted that after signing his massive contract with the Mets, he initially felt a heavy burden to transform the team’s culture and lead them to success. However, he said learning to relax more helped him deliver a career-best performance in 2024.
“For the first time last year, I really felt present and enjoyed every moment,” Lindor told Fox Sports in April. “That feeling has definitely carried into this year. That’s when you truly find happiness — when you’re living in the moment. It makes everything feel slower and more manageable.”
Lindor credits his wife and three young children with giving him perspective, even choosing the song “My Girl” as his walk-up music to honor them.
“Being a husband and father of three has taught me a lot — how to deal with failure, with success, with all of life’s highs and lows,” he said. “I really like where I’m at in life. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow. It’s true what they say — with age comes wisdom. And finding that inner peace feels great.”
Lindor’s calm and positive presence has rubbed off on his teammates. Outfielder Jesse Winker praised his leadership.
“He’s the same guy every day,” Winker said. “As a leader, he’s incredibly steady. He puts others first, and then he goes out and performs. He’s always encouraging the people around him.”
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