Mets Notes: Luisangel Acuña update after HBP, Jose Siri’s ‘real’ power

The Mets rode tremendous pitching from a pair of prospects and a seven-run inning to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon.

After the game, manager Carlos Mendoza spoke to the media to give updates on his players and the organization’s thoughts about their pitching prospects and some of their new additions.

Here’s what was said…

Update on Luisangel Acuña

Acuña was struck in the elbow by a fastball from Rays starter Shane McClanahan in the top of the second inning. Despite his obvious pain, Acuña remained in the game and stole second base, but was pulled in the top of the third.

When asked for an update on the young infielder, Mendoza seemed positive that Acuña was ok.

“Talking to the trainers, they’re not too concerned,” Mendoza said. “Got him in the elbow. Got him pretty good, obviously. Got the pad there in the left elbow and it got him good. We’ll check him again tomorrow, but as of right now, the trainers are telling me he should be fine.”

Mendoza said that Acuña did not take an X-ray and wouldn’t be needing any imaging “as of right now.”

Dom Hamel looked at as a starter

Saturday’s win was highlighted by what Blade Tidwell did, but you can’t overlook how Hamel pitched.

The 25-year-old right-hander allowed just one walk in two no-hit innings while striking out three. Last season, Hamel made 27 starts in Triple-A, where he pitched to a 5-9 record and a 6.79 ERA. He made just one spring training start last season in two appearances, and have yet to make a start this spring. Despite that, the Mets see Hamel as a starter and are starting to treat him as such.

“We’re going to continue to stretch him out and build him up as a starter,” Mendoza said.

In his first appearance this spring, Hamel threw 13 pitches. On Saturday, Hamel was pushed, slightly, to 16 pitches, but he pitched two innings instead of one like he did in his first appearance.

“We were challenging a lot of our guys coming to have a real clear plan of what to do on that day,” Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said. “We need to have clear direction on what we’re trying to do. And I think that was encapsulated by Blade and Dom today. It was a clear view of what they wanted to do, and they executed really well.”

Jose Siri’s ‘real’ power

When the Mets traded for Siri this offseason, they were looking for an elite outfield defender. And while Siri is that, they must be pleasantly surprised by what he’s shown this spring at the plate.

On Saturday, Siri launched a 3 -foot bomb, his second this spring. So far in camp, those two longballs are his only hits but he’s drawn three walks and stolen a base. It’s that plate discipline that has drawn Mendoza’s attention.

“I like how he’s controlling the strike zone. We saw that ball that he hit, but that 3-2 walk, that’s some of the things we’re looking at,” Mendoza said. “The chase, the swing and miss. He’s having a plan, coming up to the plate with an approach, and he’s executing it. He’s coming up with a nice routine pregame. Those things are important.”

For a supposed glove-first outfielder, Siri does have some pop. He launched 18 homers last season in 130 games after hitting 25 across 101 games in 2023. And while Siri’s playing time in a crowded outfield that includes Brandon Nimmo, Juan Soto, Tyrone Taylor and others will likely limit his at-bats, the Mets are happy with the player that they got.

“He’s talented. The power is real, we know he’s an elite defender,” Mendoza added. “It’s a good sign there.”