Angel Genao’s first day in the Guardians clubhouse came with a moment he won’t forget anytime soon.
The switch-hitting infielder, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 39 prospect in baseball, was at his new locker in Cleveland on Wednesday afternoon with his big-league debut just hours away. But the buzz around that milestone was matched by something else that happened earlier in the day: a conversation with Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, the player Genao grew up idolizing.
As Genao got loose on the field and prepared to practice bunts with his teammates, Lindor was standing behind home plate. For the Guardians prospect, that alone made the day feel bigger.
“It’s really special,” Genao said through an interpreter. “That was the player I idolized growing up, so it’s really special knowing he’ll be there when I make my debut.”
Lindor didn’t just say hello. He passed along advice that fit the moment and the bigger picture.
“To be better than me,” Lindor told NJ.com. “To not just focus on one player, to gather stuff from other players and make it their own. And at the end of the day to enjoy today, take a moment, breathe, celebrate it, and then don’t breathe again until you reach the end of your career.”
The connection carries extra weight because Lindor once occupied the same kind of spot Genao now holds. Before being traded to the Mets after the 2021 season, Lindor spent his entire professional career in Cleveland and rose through the system as one of its most highly regarded prospects.
Now 32, he’s back around the organization as Genao starts his own major league path.
For Lindor, the exchange was meaningful in its own way.
“It’s a privilege and an honor” to meet another player who grew up rooting for him.
“It means I’ve been around for a minute,” Lindor said. “Hopefully I can stay longer in this game to see many other guys come up and play and be successful.”
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