#MLBPlayers411: Francisco Lindor gives fans a reason to smile

June 6th, 2016

Francisco Lindor's six-RBI weekend helped the Cleveland Indians sweep the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
The 22-year-old shortstop, originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, planned to become a professional baseball player since he was in high school in Florida. However, if his baseball career didn't take off, Lindor had backup plans.
Lindor, who placed second in AL Rookie-of-the-Year balloting in 2015, says he'd like to have become a dentist if he didn't play baseball.
"When someone has a good smile, it just changes their personality," Lindor told the Indians. "You smile and that's everything you have."
Lindor, who moved to Florida from Puerto Rico with his father when he was 12 years old, played at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida and became the eighth overall draft pick in 2011.
Lindor remembers his childhood fondly. Christmas is his favorite holiday, since seeing kids with presents is one of the first things he thinks of when remembering Puerto Rico.
Lindor now has his own Smile Squad. Each Monday home game, the Indians host a Miracle League athlete, for which Lindor serves as the player ambassador. Lindor's Smile Squad provides unique baseball experiences for children and adults with disabilities.
Although Lindor isn't pursuing his dentistry dream, he's still giving fans plenty to smile about. He was batting .313 with a .367 on-base percentage, six home runs and 10 steals after the weekend for the first-place Indians.
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More from #MLBPlayers411:

  • Lindor's favorite TV show is "Duck Dynasty," and his favorite movie is "Miracle."
  • He has a three-year-old chocolate lab named after his grandfather, Paco.
  • Lindor's first car was a Mercedes SUV.
  • His childhood baseball idols were Barry Larkin, Roberto Alomar, Omar Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
  • Lindor "picked up a big social media habit" upon moving to America. He can be found on Twitter @Lindor12BC