FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Mets traded for Jose Siri primarily as a result of he performs a superb middle area.
He’s a participant who looks like a distinct sort of weapon in what tasks as a robust lineup.
However there may be not less than some hope that Siri can develop right into a stronger hitter — a number of the proof exhibiting up this spring.
In his fifth Grapefruit League sport, Siri blasted his third house run, which was tied for probably the most in baseball to date as a 6-4 loss to the Crimson Sox concluded.
“There’s potential there,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated Sunday from JetBlue Park, the place Siri crushed a three-run homer to left area off Liam Hendriks.
There isn’t any doubting Siri’s energy, and he has totaled 43 homers over the previous two seasons.
However he strikes out typically and is coming off a very poor season on the plate, having hit .187 with a .620 OPS with the Rays final 12 months.
The Mets hope they may also help Siri’s plate self-discipline, which might assist him attain base extra typically and have a greater data of which pitches he can rip.
“For him, I believe understanding the position that he has on this staff offensively — that means there’s probability he’s going to have some actually good hitters behind him,” Mendoza stated. “Getting on base, controlling the strike zone, swinging at good pitches, and he’s doing that proper now.”
The 29-year-old couldn’t take these steps with the Astros or Rays, however he established himself as useful by means of unimaginable performs defensively and his highly effective stroke.
The Mets despatched reduction prospect Eric Orze to Tampa Bay to amass a participant who basically changed Harrison Bader.
“I used to be shocked,” Siri stated by means of interpreter Alan Suriel this weekend. “I used to be house on the time. I wasn’t anticipating to get traded, however that’s the enterprise.”
The excellent news for Paul Blackburn: His tweaked sinker is transferring greater than ever.
The dangerous information: Controlling that motion is a piece in progress.
The Mets right-hander was charged with 4 runs on three hits and two walks whereas recording 4 outs.
He threw 23 pitches within the first inning, was pulled after recording only one out, reentered for the second inning and pitched a 1-2-3 body.
on Sunday in Fort Myers, Fla. Imagn Photos
He received a greater hold of his sinker within the second inning.
“There’s good days and there’s dangerous days with it,” Blackburn stated of the pitch, which has change into a spring venture. “I used to be actually pleased with the motion of it right now, however simply having the ability to take that motion and constantly get into the zone.”
Blackburn, who was carried out after 32 pitches, is a robust rotation candidate with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas sidelined.
Luisangel Acuña, who was drilled by a fastball within the elbow Saturday and compelled out of the sport, needs to be positive, Mendoza stated.
Acuña was advised to not swing a bat Sunday as a precaution, however he did infield work and has not required testing.
“Not too involved,” Mendoza stated.
Sean Reid-Foley got here by means of OK after throwing 15 pitches Saturday in his first sport since a shoulder impingement lower brief his season final 12 months.
Reid-Foley recorded two outs whereas permitting successful and a stroll earlier than being lifted.
His fastball sat round 93-94 mph, which is wholesome for this time of the season.
“Thought he was good,” Mendoza stated of the righty reliever, who final pitched within the majors on June 19. His shoulder then pressured him to the injured checklist and an tried rehab task ended with a shoulder setback.
