A few days after Francisco Lindor’s electrifying 2024 season with the New York Mets came to an end, an unexpected admirer stepped forward to praise the star shortstop and his team. Grammy Award-winning artist John Mayer, known for his soulful music, took to Instagram to share how deeply inspired he was by Lindor and the Mets throughout the season.
In a heartfelt and thoughtful post, Mayer expressed that Lindor’s dedication to his craft had become a source of motivation for him during his own performances and work.
“Thank you, Francisco Lindor @lindor12bc. Thank you, New York Mets,” Mayer began. “You never know when you’re going to find a new source of inspiration, and Francisco became that for me this year. You could see the dedication in his eyes, in his plays—you could even see it in his strikeouts. It wasn’t a case of ‘couldn’t,’ only ‘didn’t that time.'”
Mayer continued by drawing parallels between Lindor’s resilience on the field and his own experience during his summer tour at the Las Vegas Sphere with Dead & Company. He described how Lindor’s approach to the game helped him push through tough moments during his concerts.
“My Sphere concerts this summer became games in my mind. Wins were when the music was cooking, when the notes matched the intention, when the zone could be found. Every weekend was a series, and every show was a home game.”
Mayer revealed that Lindor’s mindset even influenced him when he faced a personal challenge—an injury during one of his performances. “When I injured my finger and looked down to see half the nail sheared off and bleeding, my first thought was how to play with the other three fingers. That was what Lindor would have done, and so that’s what I did.”
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He went on to reflect on what makes the Mets so relatable, despite their superstar talent. “The Mets’ talent makes them aspirational, but their humanity makes them relational. It means that it’s never out of the question that what’s being done on that field could be done by you and I in our pursuits, too.”
Mayer, born in Connecticut, has been a longtime Mets fan, and his connection to the team runs deep. His 30-show run at the Las Vegas Sphere was both physically and mentally demanding, and he shared that the performances took a toll on him. But through it all, it was Lindor and the Mets who kept him inspired.
The Mets’ season came to an emotional end with a 10–5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. Despite the defeat, Lindor’s individual performance throughout the season was nothing short of phenomenal.
If not for the unprecedented season from Shohei Ohtani, Lindor would likely be the front-runner for the National League MVP award. In 2024, Lindor hit .273 with an on-base percentage of .344, slugging .500. He belted 33 home runs, drove in 91 RBIs, posted an OPS of .844, and accumulated a WAR of 7.0. His stellar play was an easy source of inspiration for anyone who watched.
As Mayer hopes for Lindor and the Mets to come back stronger next season, his tribute highlights the unexpected ways that sports can impact and inspire beyond the field.
In a year where both the musician and the shortstop battled through their own challenges, it’s clear that Lindor’s perseverance resonated far beyond the walls of Citi Field, even influencing a Grammy-winning artist to find strength in his own craft.
