MINNEAPOLIS -- The Mets¡¯ fears regarding Jose Siri's left leg were realized on Monday, when an MRI revealed a fracture in his tibia. The team does not yet have a clear timeline on how long Siri will be sidelined, manager Carlos Mendoza said, ¡°but he¡¯s going to be out for a while.¡±
¡°That sucks for Siri,¡± fellow outfielder Tyrone Taylor said. ¡°I know he just wants to be out there with the guys. I wish him a speedy recovery.¡±
Siri fractured his tibia by fouling a ball off his shin in Saturday¡¯s 3-1 loss to the Athletics. Although initial X-rays came back negative, that technology sometimes misses smaller breaks. Two days later, an MRI revealed the fracture.
¡°It¡¯s obviously disappointing whenever something like that happens,¡± Siri said.
An offseason trade acquisition from the Rays, Siri was just 1-for-20 at the time of his injury, but he had impacted multiple games with his defense and his aggressive baserunning.
In Siri¡¯s absence, Taylor figures to become the main starter in center, as he has been at various points during his year-plus with the Mets. He¡¯s also off to a slow start, batting .158 with a .390 OPS.
¡°I¡¯m thankful for any opportunity that I get,¡± Taylor said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen now, but yeah, I¡¯ll be thankful for any opportunity that I get.¡±
The Mets will make a move Tuesday to supplement the roster, with José Azocar and Gilberto Celestino standing out as the obvious suspects at Triple-A Syracuse. But they also have two notable options already on the Major League roster. Brandon Nimmo, a longtime center fielder who moved to left last year, is still capable of starting games in center if the Mets have a need there. Mendoza has also instructed No. 7 prospect Luisangel Acuña to be ready.
Thus far, Acu?a has served the Mets exclusively as a middle infielder, but he played center regularly last year, both in Syracuse and in the Venezuelan Winter League. Before games, Acu?a regularly shags fly balls to stay sharp. He¡¯s also starting to pick things up at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Monday¡¯s 5-1 win over the Twins to extend his hitting streak to four. The rookie is batting .429 over that stretch.
¡°Hopefully Siri is able to come back soon,¡± Acu?a said through an interpreter. ¡°But Mendy told me at any given moment, to just be ready. If they need me out in center field, they¡¯ll put me out in center field. So it¡¯s my job to be prepared for any situation.¡±
As for Siri, the Mets plan to send him for follow-up testing in one week to see how much healing has occurred. In the interim, he will remain on crutches. Siri hopes to have a better idea of his timeline once that additional testing occurs.
¡°I¡¯m a quick healer,¡± he said.