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Lindor's journey began when the Cleveland Guardians called him up from Triple-A Columbus during the 2015 season. The franchise was struggling, sitting at 29-33 and last in the American League Central. Cleveland’s decision to promote Lindor was met with high expectations, as he was ranked the fourth-best prospect in baseball that year, behind notable talents like Byron Buxton and Chris Bryant.
His impact was immediate. Playing primarily in the second spot of the batting order, Lindor excelled in the latter part of the season, particularly in September, hitting .362 with an OPS over 1,000. By the end of his rookie season, he had appeared in 99 games, secured 28 extra-base hits, and achieved a commendable .300 batting average, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting.