As he continues to recover from a calf strain -- and now a sprained ankle -- Francisco Lindor won't be making his 2019 debut for at least another week.
That, however, didn't stop New Balance from releasing the Cleveland Indians' All-Star shortstop's latest line: the 'La Familia' collection, which celebrates Lindor's Puerto Rican heritage.
Available on NewBalance.com and select online retailers, the new collection of Lindor-inspired gear includes four new colorways of the 'Cypher 12' cleat, a pair of running shoes and two new t-shirts. Most of the products feature a multicolor pattern reminiscent of the flag of Puerto Rico, where Lindor was born before moving to Florida at the age of 12.
While endorsement deals may not be as prominent in baseball as they are in basketball and football, New Balance has made a strong effort to push Lindor as one of the faces of the sport since partnering with the 2-time Silver Slugger in 2017. After LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency last summer, the athletic shoe company posted a tweet suggesting that a mural of Lindor replace the one of James that then occupied the Sherwin Williams building in downtown Cleveland.
Although its proposal never came to fruition, New Balance has continued to promote Lindor individually in a way that few baseball players are today. Each of the four colorways of Lindor's new cleat retail for $129.99, with the running shoes selling for $89.99 and the shirts priced at $29.99.
According to New Balance, the 'La Familia' collection will be available for a limited time only.
