Jose Reyes was a former Major League Baseball player who played primarily as a shortstop. He is remembered for his electric speed on the base paths and his dynamic play in the field.

Reyes’ career spanned over 16 seasons, with the majority of his career being spent with the New York Mets. In this article, we will take a closer look at the life and career of Jose Reyes.

Early Life

Jose Bernabe Reyes was born on June 11, 1983, in Villa Gonzalez, Dominican Republic. He grew up with six siblings and spent most of his childhood playing baseball with his brothers.

Reyes was discovered by a Mets scout in 1999 when he was just 16 years old. He was signed as an amateur free agent shortly thereafter and began his baseball career in the Mets’ farm system.

Career

Reyes made his Major League debut on June 10, 2003, at the age of 19. He quickly made a name for himself as an exciting player to watch, with his speed and athleticism being his standout qualities. Reyes’ best season came in 2011 when he led the National League in hits, triples, and stolen bases.

That same year, he was awarded the Silver Slugger Award, which is given to the best offensive player at each position in both the American and National Leagues.

Reyes spent the majority of his career with the Mets before leaving for the Miami Marlins in 2012. Unfortunately, the Mets did not make much of an effort to retain the team’s spark plug.

When the choice came down between Reyes and Wright, the Mets opted for the latter.

The shortstop played in Miami for a season before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Reyes played with the Blue Jays for just two seasons before being traded to the Colorado Rockies for LaTroy Hawkins and Troy Tulowitzki.

He would eventually find himself back on the Mets in 2016, where he played three more seasons till 2018 before announcing his retirement.

In 12 years with the Mets, Reyes slashed a very respectable .282/.334/.433/.768 with 113 doubles, 108 home runs, 521 RBI’s and a whopping 408 stolen bases.

Off-the-Field Issues

Reyes was involved in a domestic violence incident in 2015, which caused widespread controversy and prompted the MLB to implement a domestic violence policy.

Reyes was suspended for the first 51 games of the 2016 season as a result of the incident.

Legacy

Reyes’ legacy is bittersweet. On one hand, he is remembered for his incredible speed, impeccable fielding, and electrifying play on the field.

On the other hand, his domestic violence incident tarnished his reputation and raised questions about his character.

Regardless, Reyes will always be remembered as one of the most exciting players to watch on the baseball field. I would expect that Steve Cohen would eventually retire his number at some point.

Conclusion

Jose Reyes was an exceptional baseball player whose career spanned over 16 seasons in the MLB. He will be remembered for his exceptional speed, tremendous talent, and dynamic play on the field.

While his legacy is complex due to his off-the-field issues, there is no denying his contributions to the game of baseball.

Reyes will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest shortstops in the history of the MLB.