Rene Reyes
| AB | 177 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .22 |
| OBP | .261 |
| SLG | .316 |
| HR | 2 |
- Full name Rene Reyes
- Born 02/21/1978 in Margarita, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: S / Throws: R
- School Nueva Esparta
- Debut 07/22/2003
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Originally signed as a catcher, Reyes moved to the outfield after shoulder and knee surgeries. A former MVP in the Rookie-level Arizona and low Class A South Atlantic leagues, he played in the Futures Games in July 2003 and received his first big league callup shortly afterward. He topped all minor league switch-hitters in batting in 2003. He doesn't have a picturesque swing, but Reyes can hit. He gets the bat head through the zone and makes solid contact, with a career .329 average in the minors. He has gap power now and should pull more pitches as he matures. He runs well enough to steal some bases and shows fringe-average ability in center field, though he's better suited for an outfield corner. Reyes can get lackadaisical until he's challenged. He needs to show a desire to get better rather than be satisfied with getting by. He puts the bat on the ball so easily that he rarely walks. Reyes figures to be a fourth outfielder in Colorado to open the 2004 season. With his bat, he should be ready to claim a starting job on one of the corners the following year. -
Signed as a catcher, Reyes was MVP of the Rookie-level Arizona League during his U.S. debut in 1998. He since has moved to first base and then the outfield. After missing all of 2000 following knee surgery, he came back to be the South Atlantic League MVP in 2001. Reyes has tremendous hitting instincts and power from both sides of the plate. He's athletic, which allows him to play all three outfield positions as well as first base, and leads to speculation he could wind up at third base. Reyes hasn't always put out and has to be challenged. Teammate Tino Sanchez made a breakthrough with him last year in Double-A, and Reyes hit .323-7-27 in the final two months after he started showing up for voluntary extra work. He needs to use his hands better to handle inside pitches and could draw more walks. His body has matured, so he won't be the basestealer some projected him to be two years ago. Reyes could move into the big league mix at some point in 2003 after opening the year in Triple-A. His versatility will enhance his chances. -
Reyes won the batting title and MVP award in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 1998, then followed up with two injury-plagued seasons. Arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder limited him to 62 games in 1999, and he missed all of 2000 after surgery on his right knee. He bounced back last year, with another batting crown/MVP double in the low Class A South Atlantic League while moving from first base to the outfield. A natural hitter, Reyes holds his bat high, like Manny Ramirez, from the right side and has a quieter approach as a lefty. He has quick hands and power potential. Right now, he's more of a home run threat from the left side. Reyes runs well despite his bulky frame, and he has an above-average arm. He needs a challenge to produce. Injuries have kept him from fine-tuning his talent, but he's finally healthy. He also stayed in Denver during the winter for a conditioning program and will be expected to jump past high Class A and go to Double-A in 2002. If a need arises in the big league outfield, he could get an audition.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Reyes finished second in the PCL batting race and led all minor league switch-hitters with his .343 average. He always has been able to hit, batting .429 in his first season in the United States and .325 as a pro. While he may not have more than gap power, he has borderline center-field ability. It all comes down to how much effort Reyes is willing to put into baseball, and he has a longstanding reputation for coasting. Rick Sofield, his manager at Colorado Springs, said Reyes is starting to understand there's more to the game than what he accomplishes in the batter's box. "He's learning to work," Sofield said. "He's learning that's as important as the game. He needs to work on his defense and on the bases. The key was that he saw older guys better than him working their ass off, like Greg Vaughn, and that made an impression. He made some adjustments."
