GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- A package rested on Francisco Lindor's leather chair, another gift for the kid who seemingly has it all.
Lindor clawed at the cardboard until he unearthed two pairs of cleats from his latest sponsor, New Balance.
He broke out into a holiday-themed A cappella.
"We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas!"
Every day is Christmas for the charmed 23-year-old shortstop. He has accrued only a year and a half of major-league service time, yet he has rapidly secured some star power.
Companies line up to ink him to endorsement deals. Reporters clamor for any quote that rolls off of his tongue. TV cameras monitor his every footstep on the diamond and in the clubhouse. Children align at the fence near the Indians' spring-training practice field, anticipating the moment he'll snatch their Sharpie for a swift signature.
Lindor is yanked in hundreds of directions to fulfill every last commitment, from photo shoots to autograph sessions to contract signings to press conferences. Oh, and then there's the task of captaining the Indians' infield and batting third in Terry Francona's lineup.
He's busier than ever. But he's focused on being better than ever.
"At the end of the day, I still have a job to do and I have to separate my job from the other stuff," Lindor said. "All that stuff comes after. What I do on the field comes first."
The Indians' media relations director delivered Lindor an email last week that included the subject line: "Next Week (BUSY!!!!)"
That's four exclamation points and an intentional application of the Caps Lock button. There's no clearer way to convey the message that he's a popular commodity. His itinerary begs for mercy.
Sunday
Two-hour Pepsi photo shoot alongside Cubs shortstop Addison Russell
Monday
ESPN live shots for "Baseball Tonight"
Sports Illustrated For Kids cover photo shoot
Tuesday
MLB Network commercial shoot for two-and-a-half hours
World Baseball Classic roundtable with other participants
Wednesday
ESPN Sports Science taping
Thursday
New Balance photo shoot
Friday
New Balance photo shoot
Indians Photo Day responsibilities
Signing Day (at least 300 items)
Those obligations occupy the few voids in his schedule. He fits them around his daily meetings, batting practice and fielding drills.
It's the life of a budding superstar, an All-Star and Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop with a dash of World Series seasoning. His smile radiates from one practice field to the other. His voice echoes across the complex as he shouts, "I got it! I got it!" during an infield pop-up drill.
Yeah. He's got
it
, all right.
"When you do your job on the field, and you do it like Frankie is doing it," said Tribe manager Terry Francona, "there are probably going to be things that happen because of it. Good things. But they don't happen unless you take care of your job on the field.
"Even at a young age, he's very aware of that."
Lindor turned 23 in November, making him the second-youngest player on Cleveland's 40-man roster. He still gets skittish when he orders a strawberry daiquiri, worried that the server will request to see his ID.
And yet, last season's exhausting postseason trial equipped him -- and his teammates -- with loads of expertise. In less than two years in the big leagues, he's gained more experience than some long-tenured veterans have racked up in their careers.
"Most 30-year-olds, let alone 23-year-olds, probably don't carry themselves like he does, especially on the field," said Tribe pitcher Corey Kluber. "It looks like he's been up here for 10 years."
It doesn't feel that way to Lindor, though. He claims he's eight seasons away from veteran status.
"I'm not going around, telling people, 'You have to do this,'" Lindor said. "[But] I feel like if I [offer an idea], they're going to listen or take it into consideration. This group of guys is very understanding. They don't worry about how old you are."
Lindor attended the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year honors in December in New York, where David Ortiz presented him with the Rising Star Award. He rubbed elbows with LeBron James, Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Lewis, Jay-Z and DJ Khaled.
"I'm the little kid," Lindor said. "I'm looking around, like, 'This is crazy.'"
This is also his new reality. He struggled to grasp how he fit among the sports icons and music moguls, but he wasn't starstruck.
"I'm not shy," he said. "I'll just go up to you and say, 'Hey, what's up. My name is Francisco.'"
Soon enough, the introduction will prove unnecessary.
At this rate, that hair, like a 'fro of fusilli, with golden-tinted curls bouncing around beneath his cap, will be recognizable to any casual baseball observer. That smile, an ever-present flash of pearly whites, will be inescapable.
"I'm me," Lindor said. "I don't care who you are -- I'm going to be myself."
As Lindor celebrated the arrival of his new cleats -- after practice, of course -- the clubhouse attendant who delivered the package walked past and smiled.
"It's good to be Frankie Lindor," he shouted.
"It's not bad," Lindor replied.