Jose Reyes

Lore & Background

Reyes is a four-time MLB All-Star. He led MLB in triples in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011. Reyes also led the National League in stolen bases in 2005, 2006, and 2007. He was the NL batting champion in 2011. He is also the New York Mets' all-time leader in triples (113) and stolen bases (408).

In Their Own Story

The sun was hanging low over Marlins Park, turning the outfield grass into a sheet of hammered copper. Reyes was in the hole, knees bent, eyes locked on the pitcher's windup. The ball was hit—a hard grounder up the middle. Reyes turned, and for a split second the crowd went quiet, because the play looked like it was going to get through. It didn't. He fielded it off his glove, pivoted, and fired a laser to first that arrived before the runner's foot even left the bag. The first baseman caught it, and Reyes was already turning, sliding his glove along the dirt in a little celebratory sweep, pointing at the third-base side where a runner had been watching the play with his mouth open. The Marlins dugout erupted. Someone threw a towel. Reyes grinned, shook the dirt off his leg, and was already looking at the next pitch. That was Jose Reyes. That was the whole point.

Reader's Guide

Reyes made his major league debut on June 10, 2003, against the Texas Rangers, the day before his 20th birthday. He was the first teenager to play for the Mets since Gregg Jefferies in 1987. In 69 games in 2003, he batted .307 with 32 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. In 2006, he signed a four-year, $23.25 million contract extension with the Mets. He hit for the cycle on June 21, 2006, against the Cincinnati Reds. He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2006 and finished 7th in NL MVP voting that year.

Did You Know?

• Reyes led the National League in stolen bases in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
• He is the New York Mets' all-time leader in triples (113) and stolen bases (408).
• Reyes hit for the cycle on June 21, 2006, against the Cincinnati Reds.
• He was the NL batting champion in 2011.