Cincinnati Reds: Jose Siri showing his stuff in Dominican Winter League

The Cincinnati Reds are searching for their next center fielder after letting Billy Hamilton go last month. While he won’t be ready for action in the big leagues next season, Jose Siri may be their best internal option in the future.

With the Cincinnati Reds decision to non-tender Billy Hamilton, there is now a void in center field at Great American Ball Park. In all likelihood, Cincinnati will look to free agency for a temporary solution in 2019. But, the long-term answer to the current vacancy may already be in the Reds’ system. Jose Siri is knocking the cover off the ball in the Dominican Winter League.

When you hear fans talk about talented outfielders in the Reds’ farm system, most fans and pundits will point to Taylor Trammell, and rightfully so. Trammell is the No. 2 prospect in the Reds system behind only Nick Senzel, who is also getting a chance this spring to show what he can do in the outfield.

Senzel has all the tools to be a center fielder in the Majors, but I’d much prefer to see Senzel occupy a position he’s more comfortable playing like second base. Trammell, while incredibly talented has yet to play beyond Advanced-A ball, so let’s pump the brakes just a little bit, even though all the tools appear to be there.

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According to MLB Pipeline, there are four outfielders ranked higher than Jose Siri. But, he’s the only outfielder other than TJ Friedl who’s played at least at the Double-A level. In all likelihood, both Siri and Friedl will start the season in Triple-A Louisville with the Bats.

Taylor Trammell will be a dynamite player at the Major League level, but there are several scouts who question his arm talent and think he’s a better fit for left field than center. Mike Siani can flat out rake and is projected as a center fielder, but the Reds’ 4th round selection from last year’s draft is at least 3 years away.

That brings us back to Jose Siri, who could be a diamond in the rough for the Reds in center field. The young man has incredible arm talent, so much so that there’s been discussion of him playin g right field instead of center. Siri is lightning fast. Not Billy Hamilton fast, but fast enough. There’s just one thing that Siri needs to work on this next season in the Minor Leagues and that’s plate discipline.

Jose Siri is swinging for the fences during almost every at-bat. While launch angle, bat speed, and home runs dominate today’s game, you still got to make contact. Siri hit .229 in Double-A Pensacola last season with a .300 on-base percentage. He also struck 91 times in 253 at-bats. That means 36% of the time he stepped into the batters box, he struck out. Ouch!

However, while playing in the Dominican Winter League, Siri has seen some very positive numbers. In 37 games, Siri is hitting .275 with a .329 OBP. HIs strikeout percentage in the DWL is 30%, down slightly from his season in Pensacola. Over the last 10 games, he’s hitting .325 with a .841 OPS.

The Reds have yet to sign a free agent to play center field for the 2019 season, but their starting center fielder for the 2020 season might be tearing it up in the Dominican Winter Leagues as we speak. If he can improve his approach at the plate, Jose Siri could be an impact player at the Major League level, maybe as soon as September 2019.