New York Mets center fielder Jose Siri will be out for several weeks after being diagnosed with a fractured left tibia after hitting his leg with a foul ball in a play that occurred last week
The medical report estimates that Siri will be out for eight to 10 weeks, so management has to speed up its processes to find a replacement. On Monday, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said they are already working to solve the problem
In a brief appearance before the press, Stearns reported that they are considering four possible options to cover Siri’s absence: Tyrone Taylor, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo and Luis Angel Acuna.
“I don’t think we know. I think Tyrone is going to be very successful, no doubt. He’s a very talented center fielder; he can impact the game in a number of ways. And I think he’s also starting to have better at-bats. Beyond that, we’ll see,” he said of his most important alternative
“Jeff could be part of this,” he added. “Brandon could be part of this, Louie could be part of this. I think it’s about who’s playing well, which pitchers we’re facing, how we want to structure the lineup each day. But we are confident that we have enough players to play there, to cover that position, and cover it well.”
Who is the most qualified replacement to cover the absence of Jose Siri?
After Siri’s injury, the Mets chose Tyrone Taylor as their starting center fielder. However, Taylor is not Siri, nor are his early season statistics reliable enough that he does not have competition at the position with his three teammates. In 59 plate appearances this season, Taylor is hitting a modest .211/.237/.298.Jeff McNeil looks like another viable option after his rehab return later this week. However, he does not have many innings at the position, so the Mets could consider him as a starter for some games, under particular conditions.
“I imagine Jeff will do what he always does,” Stearns said. “He’s going to be constantly moving. He’ll play second base. He’ll replace the corner outfielders when needed. We’ll see how center field goes; I think he’s excited about it. So there’s a lot of at-bats available, and Jeff will certainly get his share.”
As for Luisangel Acuna, he has never played center field in the Major Leagues. His experience is limited as an infielder, primarily at second base. However, he did play 250 innings in center field at Triple-A last season.
As for Brandon Nimmo, he plays left field for the Mets, and as part of the roster rotation, he could get some playing time in center field if needed.
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