As Francisco Lindor arrived at Citi Field for the New York Mets‘ series opener against the Seattle Mariners on Friday, he was met with a heartfelt surprise from his daughters. The All-Star shortstop’s gameday experience was made even more special thanks to an unexpected visit from his children, creating a memorable moment before the game began.
Kalina, Lindor’s daughter, greeted him with a camera in hand during <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB’s Players’ Weekend celebrations. She captured the arrival on video, catching Lindor off guard as he hadn’t anticipated her presence that day.
“Francisco Lindor’s daughter photographed his gameday arrival, and he had no idea she was going to be there.”
Seeing Kalina, Lindor expressed surprise and joy, asking, “What are you doing here?” She took pictures as he stepped out of the car, and shortly after, Lindor posed for photos. Joining the fun was his younger daughter, Amapola, allowing the trio to share precious moments together.
Behind the scenes: Family moments captured before the game
Lindor’s wife, Katia, shared glimpses of their reunion on Instagram, offering fans a glimpse of the emotional moments before the series opener. Clips showed the Mets shortstop embracing his daughters and exchanging playful handshakes, highlighting the close bond they share amid the baseball hustle.
“Quick stop directly from JFK to Citi Field to hug our favorite guy,” Katia captioned a picture showing Lindor holding his daughters close.
“Sad to leave PR but always happy to be reunited,” Katia added alongside a video of Lindor and the kids.
Lindor’s daughters bring both joy and inspiration on the field
The presence of Kalina and Amapola proved to be more than a touching family moment—it seemed to ignite Lindor’s performance. The Mets shortstop delivered one of his best outings since the All-Star break, hitting two home runs, driving in four RBIs, and contributing two runs himself against the Mariners. Despite his efforts, the Mets fell short as Seattle rallied to win the game 11-9 in the opener of the series.
Close family support during previous games fuels Lindor’s confidence
Lindor’s daughters are no strangers to Mets ballparks, often seen attending games with their mother. Last month, they were notably seated next to the dugout at Yankee Stadium during a Mets victory against the New York Yankees. During that game, Lindor hit a home run and shared a celebratory moment with Kalina, handing her a piece of gum.
“They’ve been [sitting near the on-deck circle] before, but this one was way closer because she’s right next to the dugout,” Lindor said. “It was cool. I was happy to have my girls there.”
As the Mets continue to struggle, losing nine out of their last ten games, Lindor will be counting on the support and inspiration from his daughters to help turn the team’s fortunes around.