NY Mets human highlight reel fell into bad habits in the Dominican Winter League

The New York Mets' acquisition of outfielder José Siri brings an undeniable jolt of energy to their roster. Known for his electrifying style of play, Siri has showcased both in the MLB and the highly competitive Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) a blend of exceptional defense, blazing speed, and raw power.

The Dominican Winter League, a cradle of talent and intense competition provides a perfect stage for players like Siri to hone their skills and demonstrate their passion for the game. His presence undoubtedly elevates the league's excitement where he has featured highlight reels showcasing daring baserunning, great catches in the outfield, and a knack for making the difficult look routine.

Jose Siri still shows a bad-hitting approach at the plate.

Beneath the surface of Siri's dynamic play lies a concerning trend that has followed him throughout his professional career, his hitting approach. While he possesses raw power, his plate discipline and strike zone recognition have been persistent weaknesses.

This is reflected in his alarming strikeout rates in recent MLB seasons, reaching 35.7% in 2023 and 37.9% in 2024, both ranking in the bottom 1% of the league. Even in 2024 his propensity to strike out increased, especially on fastball pitches, by approximately 6 percentage points compared to 2023.

Unfortunately, this issue hasn't magically disappeared in the Dominican Winter League. Siri's performance this winter mirrored his struggles in the majors. Across the regular season, playoffs, and finals, he showed a troubling 34.6% strikeout rate. Even more alarming, his struggles intensified in the final series, where he struck out a staggering 10 times in just 16 at-bats. This performance raises serious questions about his ability to make necessary adjustments at the plate.

Siri's defensive brilliance and game-changing speed are undeniable assets. They offer significant value to any team. However, his persistent struggles with strikeouts present a major dilemma. It begs the question: how much of his stellar defense and speed can compensate for his fundamentally flawed approach at the plate to warrant a regular starting role in center field? As Siri likely takes over center field in 2025, the Mets must weigh his defensive prowess against his offensive liabilities.