Jose Reyes

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #1 prospect in 2003
  After finishing fifth in the low Class A South Atlantic League batting race in 2001, when he was the youngest regular in any full-season league, Reyes was even better in 2002. He stood out in big league camp before reporting to the high Class A Florida State League, where he earned a quick promotion to the Double-A Eastern League. Managers in both leagues rated him the top defensive shortstop, strongest infield arm and most exciting player. He also was MVP at the Futures Game after stroking a bases-loaded triple, appropriate, as Reyes led all minor leaguers with 19 triples while ranking fifth in runs and sixth in steals. He went to the Dominican League for the winter and was rated as the league's top prospect, reinforcing his emergence as the best shortstop prospect in the game. Reyes surprises people with his solid physique. His dedication to improving his strength, along with natural maturation, have transformed him from a skinny kid into an impressive specimen. He drives the ball more consistently to all fields. Reyes' plate discipline improved in high Class A before slipping after he reported to Double-A. He's an excellent baserunner with plus speed. He has demonstrated Gold Glove ability throughout his career, with a strong arm and tremendous range. Reyes needs to make improvements that should come with experience. He'll need more consistent strike-zone discipline to succeed against better pitching and to become the true leadoff hitter the Mets need. Reyes also is prone to making youthful mistakes in the field, though part of that stems from his exuberance. While he's a prolific basestealer, he can become more effective after getting caught 24 times last year. Reyes is the Mets' best everyday prospect since Darryl Strawberry blazed through the system in the early 1980s. Though the organization shuns comparisons to other players, Reyes' all-around ability and athleticism remind scouts of Alfonso Soriano. The Mets unloaded Rey Ordonez to the Devil Rays in December, clearing the way for Reyes in the long term. The club did sign Rey Sanchez as a stopgap to give Reyes some time in Triple-A to make final preparations for New York, if he needs it.
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  Ranked New York Mets #2 prospect in 2002
  No player made greater strides in the organization than Reyes, the youngest player in a full-season league last year. After hitting .250 at Rookie-level Kingsport in 2000, Reyes placed fifth in the South Atlantic League in hitting, ranked second in the minors in triples and emerged as the league's best defensive shortstop. Managers rated him the second-best prospect in the league. A good contact hitter from both sides of the plate, Reyes can drive the ball and make things happen with his above-average speed. His glove is his forte, as he has outstanding range, a plus arm and soft hands. He committed just 18 errors at Capital City and led Sally League shortstops with a .964 fielding percentage. Reyes has strong legs but needs to add strength to his upper body. He also lacks patience at the plate, but should improve as he gains experience. Some Sally League managers suggested Reyes could jump to the big leagues without much difficulty. The Mets will be patient, but he could open the season in Double-A. With Rey Ordonez out of favor, Reyes will get a shot as soon as he is deemed ready.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #1 prospect in 2003
  After winning top-prospect honors in two leagues in 2002, Reyes entered 2003 as the top shortstop prospect in the minors. Despite a hamstring injury that forced him out of the lineup for three weeks, he was leading the IL in steals when the Mets promoted him to New York in June. Once there, he showcased his all-around talents and hit better (.307) than he did in Norfolk. "He has great hands and super range and an outstanding arm," Indianapolis manager Cecil Cooper said. "His baseball instincts are terrific, and he's a plus runner. He's got all the tools to be a great one at the major league level." Reyes must become more selective at the plate, as his aggressive nature often leaves him swinging at poor pitches that result in strikeouts or popouts. Aside from that, he only needs experience to continue developing into a championship-caliber shortstop.
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  Ranked Florida State League #2 prospect in 2002
  Armed with the best set of pure tools among minor league infielders, Reyes can beat opponents in many different ways. "He's got above-average everything," Dunedin manager Marty Pevey said. "He'll take Rey Ordonez' place next year. This kid can run circles around Ordonez." Reyes ran circles around the FSL basepaths before moving to Binghamton at the end of August. A top-of-the-scale runner, he finished fifth in the minors with 104 runs and sixth with 58 steals. Built along the lines of Alfonso Soriano, Reyes has wiry athleticism and surprising strength. He ripped a minor league-best 19 triples. He also has the makings of a plus major league defender, including a strong arm and tremendous range.
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  Ranked Eastern League #1 prospect in 2002
  Reyes started impressing Mets officials in spring training, four months before getting promoted from high Class A St. Lucie to Binghamton. He ranked second to Mark Teixeira on the Florida State League Top 20 list, and earned top honors in the EL. He also was named MVP of the midseason Futures Game. "He has five outstanding tools," a National League scout said. "He's so young, so prideful. He's still raw at the plate and in the field, but there doesn't appear anything he can't do and do well. He should be one of the best players in the game in a couple of seasons." Reyes can hit for average and has some pop, has the speed to steal bases and is a stellar defender. He improved his plate discipline in 2002, though he'll have to continue to do so after regressing in Double-A. "He has above-average tools across the board, and he uses them well," an American League scout said. "There is some concern about the youthful mistakes now becoming habits later. The one thing he must do is learn the strike zone better or he'll get carved up at higher levels."
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #2 prospect in 2001
  The comparisons to Rafael Furcal are obvious, even to those who didn't see Furcal jump from the Sally League's No. 1 prospect in 1999 to the National League rookie of the year in 2000. Like Furcal, Reyes is a switch-hitting Dominican who offers big league-ready defense, makes good contact at the plate and runs well. He's also two inches taller. For Mets fans, how about defense comparable to Rey Ordonez (minus the sauce) with more offensive potential? Reyes hit .180 in May, .288 in June and .430 in July. "For a guy who's as young as he is, he's amazingly steady," said Charleston, S.C., manager Buddy Biancalana, a former major league shortstop. "If I were a big league manager, I'd have no problem making him my shortstop next year." Reyes has superb range and arm strength. He made just 18 errors to lead SAL shortstops with a .964 fielding percentage. He's exceptionally smart at the plate and learns from his mistakes, though he occasionally gets overaggressive. Observers were split on his potential to hit more than a handful of home runs.
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  Ranked National League #20 prospect in 2000
  The consensus best defensive infielder in the league, Reyes showed outstanding hands, range and footwork at shortstop, as well as a strong arm. He held his own at the plate, considering he was one of the youngest players in the league at 17, and he should hit more as he grows. But his defense could carry him up the ladder regardless. "He sure picked it against us," Dyer said. "I really like his glove, and I think he will be better with the bat."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 2003
• Ranked Baseball America's #34 prospect in 2002

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The consensus best defensive infielder in the league, Reyes showed outstanding hands, range and footwork at shortstop, as well as a strong arm. He held his own at the plate, considering he was one of the youngest players in the league at 17, and he should hit more as he grows. But his defense could carry him up the ladder regardless. "He sure picked it against us," Dyer said. "I really like his glove, and I think he will be better with the bat."