Although New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has had many memorable visitors on his new podcast, Café con Lindor, Cleveland Cavaliers player Donovan Mitchell may have made the most amusing appearance to yet. Mitchell, a lifetime Mets supporter with his own baseball origins, made Lindor and many others chuckle with his combination of audacious analogies and candid admissions.
To begin with, Mitchell claimed that Elly De La Cruz, a sensation for the Cincinnati Reds, made him think of himself on a baseball field. It was a high-flying comp that made Lindor smile. “You’re not using a switch. The shortstop for the Mets joked, “I don’t think you can throw 100.
Without holding back, Mitchell laughed and acknowledged that he wasn’t exactly De La Cruz “just yet.” Nevertheless, he asserted that he could work his way back up after hitting 90 mph once in high school. After all, the Cavaliers guard is accustomed to playing baseball. Donovan Sr., his father, is currently employed in the front office of the Mets after spending time in the minor leagues. Mitchell was a frequent visitor to the team’s clubhouse as a child, which accounts for his current ardent Mets love.
Donovan Mitchell was recruiting Juan Soto for the Mets a long time ago
However, Lindor provided a more grounded analogy. He compared Mitchell’s skill set to that of CJ Abrams, the shortstop for the Washington Nationals. “Throw a righty after hitting a lefty. That is distinct. You’re explosive, you can move, and you can jump,” Lindor said. “However, I like CJ Abrams—he’s a good elite shortstop with about 25 home runs and 30–40 bags.”
The conversation emphasized the enjoyable crossover between two top sportsmen. Because of his triple-digit throws and record-breaking sprint speeds, De La Cruz is already a Statcast favorite and one of baseball’s most exciting new players. However, Abrams’ physique and athletic profile are more similar to Mitchell’s, and Lindor’s evaluation was more realistic and favorable.
Mitchell’s passion for baseball has never been concealed. He has repeatedly made references to wanting to follow in Michael Jordan’s footsteps following his NBA career, and he even wears number 45 on the basketball field in remembrance of Jordan’s brief baseball career. When I’m done playing, I’ll attempt to be you, Mitchell said to Lindor. “I’ll make an effort to be you. Observe.
Mitchell has become a popular visitor of Mets fans because of his self-assurance and lighthearted trash talk. In a recent prank, he claimed to have helped persuade Juan Soto to sign his record-breaking $765 million contract with New York. On X, MLB’s official account reminded followers that Donovan Mitchell was courting Juan Soto to the Mets wayyy back. Mitchell was pleased to take credit for this.
It was all part of the attraction for Lindor. The goal of the back and forth was to celebrate the athleticism and joy that unites basketball and baseball, not to evaluate résumé or argue statistics. Mitchell demonstrated his great love for the game and his ability to make even an All-Star shortstop laugh, regardless of whether he is more De La Cruz, Abrams, or just himself.
