José Bernabé Reyes has the natural athleticism to be one of the premier shortstops in the game. He is a good runner with a slick-fielding and a speedy infield talent. Signed by New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1999, Jose made his Major League debut on June 10, 2003 . Jose grew in poverty, but when he began to show signs of becoming a special athlete, his parents fed him fruit and rice and meat to make sure that he don't lack anywhere at least in his diet. Jose Bernabe Reyes attended Liceoi Delia Reyes High School in the Dominican Republic , but played for Felix de Leon, since his high school did not have a baseball team. Jose was different from other players due to his strong arm, terrific range and unbelievable coordination. In 2003, among National League rookies, he ranked second in batting and stolen bases, fourth in slugging percentage (.434), tied for fifth in triples, fifth in multi-hit games (29), tied for seventh in hits, seventh in on-base average (.334), ninth in RBI and 10th in total bases (119). He hit .307 with five homeruns and 32 RBI's in 274 at bats and did not commit a single error in his final 35 games in 2003. His 17-game hit streak was the longest by a National League rookie. By the time, Jose has become a selective hitter and has learned how to play in the spotlight. With his understanding towards the basics of situational hitting, he is expected to be a leader in stolen bases in the league. Jose missed most of the 2004 season due to the injuries. Though his toe was fractured he managed to steal 19 bases and hit safely in 25 of his last 32 games. |
