Francisco Lindor-New Balance Partnership Has Come Long Way

Francisco Lindor scoffed the first time New Balance approached him about becoming a spokesman and shoe creator.

That was in 2016 when Lindor was in his first full major-league season and helping lead Cleveland to the World Series. Though it had contracts with Boston Red Sox stars David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, New Balance wasn’t a big player in the baseball cleats market.

“When they approached me, I was like ‘yeah, that’s not happening,’” Lindor recalled with a laugh.

My how things have changed.

Lindor not only wound up signing on with New Balance that season but designed a shoe for the company. On Tuesday, New Balance and Lindor unveiled an update to his signature shoe with the Lindor 2.

The official unveiling of the Lindor 2 Summer Storm will take place Tuesday night when Lindor’s New York Mets hosts the New York Yankees in the first Subway Series game of the season at Citi Field.

“The whole creation of the shoe is always unique,” said Lindor, a four-time All-Star. “It always fun to be able to sit down with the group of designers and telling them my ideas and what I want to wear on my feet.

“To me, it’s very cool when there’s something like baseball players wearing basketball shoes on the field. Whenever a shoe transcends the sport, that’s an important thing to me, from being able to go from one sport to another, from baseball to the mall to everyday life. That’s what I wanted.”

The collection features New Balance’s most advanced performance materials, utilizing the brand’s energy return midsole foam, FuelCell. A lively, dual-density, energy returning FuelCell midsole that is amplified in the Lindor 2 with ABZORB cushioning, strategically placed at the heel and forefoot. The upper features a unique two-strap system that allows move lockdown across the foot and a sliding closure system that fastens in less time than tying traditional laces which was something that Lindor specifically asked for.

New Balance considers the Lindor 2 as its premium baseball offering, combining performance technology with the 29-year-old’s style and affinity for fashion. The ‘Summer Storm’ colorway is a sleek grey with a burst of teel and pixel green sole.

“Working with Francisco on updating the Lindor he wanted to ensure it could meet his demands on the field but also something he could wear out after the game,” said Matt Nuzzo, senior product manager for New Balace baseball. “He is truly redefining the future direction and possibilities of the baseball category.”

Style is very important to Lindor. He is considered one of the best-dressed players in baseball.

“Fashion has always been in my house since I was a little kid,” he said. “Me dressing up is a way of communicating, of expressing myself without saying a word. Every day I get up, it depends on my mood, and it depends on how I feel that day, how the vibe is.

“Maybe it’s something where I want to be laid back and not to talk to too many people and that’s how I dress up. I’m a big believer in communicating through your clothing. You don’t have to be outspoken person to dress up nice.”

Despite his initial resistance, New Balance has become a big part of his accessorizing.

“They really hadn’t had the boom (in 2016) in baseball that they’ve had in the past few years,” Lindor said. “They had a plan for the future when I talked to them for the first time, and it was so obvious they were going to do great things and I wanted to help them create a cool shoe. Now, here we are.”