After missing the Amazin’ Day festivities on Saturday and obviously feeling left out, new Mets outfielder Jose Siri had to show off some Amazin’ play in a big-time spot Sunday night in the Dominican Republic.
Siri, playing for Leones del Escogido in the LIDOM, made a big-time grab to help protect a late lead in Game 6 of the Serie Final against Tigres del Licey.
The new Met entered the game in the home half of the eighth inning to play center field and help protect a one-run lead.
With Sergio Alcantara standing on third with two outs (after the former big leaguer started the inning with a double), Cristhian Adames took a 2-0 offering from Silvino Bracho into short left-center.
Siri, who was playing Adames straight away, broke for the ball immediately and, without breaking stride, made a running grab to end the inning, sliding to stop his momentum and celebrating the big grab by pounding his chest a half-dozen times.
Jose Siri with the ENERGY after covering a lot of ground to make the catch ⚡️
His team in LIDOM, Leones del Escogido, is on the verge of winning this year’s titlepic.twitter.com/9FdZcUjU00
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) January 27, 2025
Leones failed to close out the game in the top of the ninth when Gustavo Nunez hit a game-tying two-run home run. And in extra-frames Licey – looking for a third-straight title – cashed in with three runs in the top of the 13th to force a series-deciding game after a 7-4 win.
At the plate, Siri went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Siri’s defensive prowess and speed are huge pluses for New York heading into the season. In the 2024 campaign, the 29-year-old had 16 outs above average (99th percentile in the big leagues) and recorded a 29.9 feet per second sprint speed (99th percentile), per Statcast. He also had 12 defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs, tied for seventh most among big league outfielders.
President of baseball operations David Stearns said earlier this offseason that he expects Siri and Tyrone Taylor to see time in center.
“With Siri and Tyrone, we have two guys who are really talented defenders. Can impact the game in a variety of ways,” Stearns said in December. “I’d imagine over the course of the year they’re both gonna see some significant time out there. Tyrone also has the ability of moving to the corners and playing very quality defense in the corners.
“So we’ll see where that shakes out but I’m really happy to have two premium defensive center fielders going into the season.”
The Mets added Siri in a trade with the Rays in November, sending Eric Orze to Tampa.
The hope for the Mets is he can produce just a smidge more at the plate, as he slashed just .187/.255/.366 for a .78 wRC+ in 448 plate appearances over 130 games. He did slug 18 home runs with 47 RBI for the Rays.
Those numbers were down from 2023 when he posted a respectable 106 wRC+ with 25 homers and 56 RBI in just 364 times up.