Jose Siri Sees An Opening In Cincinnati

Jose Siri’s confidence has never been questioned. That’s why it wasn’t surprising that the 23-year-old expressed excitement during the Reds’ fan fest in Cincinnati shortly after it was announced that Cincinnati had non-tendered center fielder Billy Hamilton.

Siri’s enthusiasm wasn’t anything malicious against Hamilton, who later signed with the Royals, but it was merely a young player recognizing an opportunity.

He is the Reds’ top defensive outfield prospect, so a potential job opening was just what the competitor in Siri liked seeing.

That ability was something the righthanded-hitting Siri had hoped to show off last spring when he was in his first big league camp as a member of the 40-man roster. Instead, he injured his thumb in the Cactus League opener when he ran into the center-field wall trying to track down a fly ball.

Siri didn’t start the regular season until May with the ligament damage in his left thumb. 

Siri started slowly at high Class A Daytona in 2018 before his promotion to Double-A Pensacola after 30 games. In total he hit .239/.294/.449 with 13 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 96 games. His power output spiked in his final 54 games in the Southern League with nine home runs, nine triples and seven doubles.

Siri, who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2012, has “tools out the ying-yang,” according to one scout. He has outstanding power, speed, range and arm strength. Yet his one weakness—a suspect plate approach—has kept him from rising more quickly as he enters his seventh pro season.

RED HOTS

— Nick Senzel continued to work out in center field this offseason in Arizona, earning an invitation to big league camp, where he was listed as an infielder/outfielder on the official roster, despite the fact he’s never appeared in the outfield in a pro game.

— Other notable prospect non-roster invitees to big league camp include catcher Tyler Stephenson and outfielder Taylor Trammell.