Jose Reyes 2002 Minor Baseball Player of the Year

Photo Jose Reyes 2002 MLN Player of the Year

by Kathy Johnson

10.01.02 - Currently the youngest player in the Double-A Eastern League, Jose Reyes is the only member of the All-Teen Team to make the 2002 All-Prospect Team.

Reyes grew up in Santiago in the Dominican Republic. He began playing baseball on the sandlots at 12. Not being able to afford a glove, he played shortstop barehanded.

Having started slowly in Class A St. Lucie this year and ending up in AA with a combined .288 average in 134 games, he followed up the 2001 season with a breakout 2002 campaign. Reyes is now leading the minors with 19 triples, scoring 104 runs and 58 stolen bases.

Reyes, one of the Mets' top prospects, hit a bases-loaded triple Sunday to lead the World team to a 5-1 victory over the United States in the All-Star Futures game.While the Mets headed into the All-Star break in fourth place in the NL East with a record below .500, Reyes is rocketing through the organization.

In addition to being the MLN 2002 Player of the Year, Reyes has also been recognized by a number of other publications.

Binghamton manager Howie Freiling said, "He came out of the shoot like a house on fire. He's the best prospect in the league and one of the top two or three players that I've ever coached."

Reyes struck out only 58 times in 563 at-bats this season as a leadoff hitter. In his three-year career, he has stolen bases at a 72 percent clip. Defensively, Reyes has all the tools to be a tremendous fielder, and owns a strong arm.

"There are times you have to remind yourself that he is only 19 years old and that he is going to make mistakes," said Jim Duquette, New York Mets assistant general manager.

According to the Mets’ minor league report this shortstop phenom has likely seen the last of Binghamton and will probably start next season with Triple-A Norfolk Tides. This will give him one more season in the minors to fine tune his game before moving to the bigs.

The current Mets shortstop Rey Ordonez's contract is up at the end of the 2003 season. If Jose continues at the pace that he is going, he may be the prime candidate for the Met's shortstop slot should they not deal with Ordonez. An enviable position for any aspiring 19 year-old.

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