PHILADELPHIA -- A little less than five months after landing on the injured list due to a broken left tibia, Jose Siri has returned to the Mets.
The team activated Siri from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup, playing center field. With fellow right-handed center fielder Tyrone Taylor on the IL, Siri should start most days when the Mets are facing a left-handed pitcher. Otherwise, he will come off the bench depending on situational needs.
To clear roster space, the Mets optioned utility man Jared Young to Triple-A Syracuse and designated reliever Wander Suero for assignment.
“We know we’re getting an elite defender and a plus baserunner,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Siri. “So even on days when he’s not in the lineup, to have a guy like that who can go out there and steal a base or score from first when you need to, it’s important -- especially now where we’re at on the schedule.”
An offseason trade acquisition from Tampa Bay, Siri hit .050/.208/.100 in 10 games before breaking his leg in an April 12 game in Sacramento. Due to a slow healing process, Siri did not begin a rehab assignment until late last month. But he ramped up quickly from there, batting .269/.321/.462 in eight Minor League games.
“I feel good, thank God,” Siri said through an interpreter. “I spent a lot of time during my rehab assignment making sure that I feel 100 percent, and up until this point, I feel really good, ready to go.”
Back with the Mets, Siri offers a potential solution to the team's season-long center-field woes. Taylor's down season and Siri's injury have forced the Mets to rely heavily on Jeff McNeil, who has performed well but is not a natural center fielder. Although the team acquired Cedric Mullins at the Trade Deadline to take some pressure off McNeil, Mullins has produced just a .566 OPS since joining the Mets.
Mullins will continue to draw some starts against right-handed pitchers, splitting time with McNeil in that capacity.
“We’re going to play the matchups,” Mendoza said.
Siri -- who possesses a unique blend of power, speed and defensive aptitude -- hit 43 homers and stole 26 bases with the Rays from 2023-24. He also struck out in 37% of his plate appearances.
“It’s been a tough year for him,” Mendoza said. “We’re talking about that series in Sacramento, it seems like it was last year. He had a setback there when we thought he was in a good spot and then had to start from the beginning. But to have that type of defense, the baserunning, the power, especially where we’re at? It’s good to have him back.”