Earlier this year Baseball
America named the Texas Rangers as having the best minor
league system in baseball. Their impressive ranking comes in part because of
the prospect depth they have across various positions, particularly pitching.
Reliever Jimmy Reyes is one of the of those pitchers, and if he continues
performing the way he has during his first few seasons, he could be in Arlington
before long.
Reyes, a southpaw, was taken out of Elon University in the seventh round
of the 2010 MLB Draft. He may have gone even higher, but at 5’10”, he lacks the
height traditionally associated with pitching success. Now three years into his
professional career, he has shown that the only thing that matters is talent,
and he has plenty of that.
Reyes has been nothing short of spectacular thus far in his career. He
has appeared in a total of 92 games in relief, going 14-5 with a 2.36 ERA and
seven saves. He is a strikeout pitcher, as evidenced by his 157 punchouts in
144.2 innings. He even helped close out a combined
no-hitter this past season. More information about his
career statistics is available at: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=reyes-001jam.
Having reached High-A in 2012, Reyes is in a good position to start this
coming season in Double-A. If he continues to pitch well there’s a good chance
the soon-to-be 24-year-old could be in the majors before the end of this
season.
I was able to interview Reyes this past offseason and found him to be both
intelligent and engaging. It’s impossible not to root for such a player to
achieve his dreams of playing in the major leagues!
Jimmy Reyes Interview:
Who were your favorite team and player growing up
and why?: My favorite team growing up was the Marlins.
I was never really an avid fan, but they were the hometown team so I felt
obligated. My favorite player growing up was Roger Clemens.
Obviously when I was younger I had no idea what he was doing off the
field, but I loved the way he attacked hitters and played with intensity and
fire.
What pitches do you have in your arsenal, and which
one do you think you need to improve the most?: I
throw a four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, and changeup. I think all of
my pitches have room for improvement, so it’s tough to say I should just
concentrate on one. I'm a perfectionist, so if they aren't perfected then you
can bet I'm working on them.
Can you run through what your 2010 draft experience
was like?: Leading up to the draft I was both nervous and
excited. I was extremely excited that I had got drafted and that I was
one step closer to my dream, but I was sure glad it was over. Patience is
not something I possess very much of, so as the draft unfolded I just wanted my
name to be called and get ready to take the next step.
How
noticeable is the difference in talent as you progress through the minors?:
Each level you move up, both hitters and pitchers tend to make less mistakes.
There are extremely talented players at each level, but a majority of the
players who continue to move up do a better job of making adjustments and
master their craft.
Run me through what you eat during a typical day
during the season?: My usual day during the season starts with oatmeal
with dried fruit and a banana for breakfast. When I get to the field I will
probably make myself a sandwich for lunch. I have to get pretty creative
because I have one just about every day. After batting practice, the clubbie
will put out a spread that usually consists of rice and either chicken or
meatballs. If I worked out that day, a few teammates and myself will take
turns whipping up a protein concoction with different fruits (again you have to
get creative). Dinner is usually provided by the clubbie, and can be anything
from pizza to chicken and mashed potatoes.
How much competition exists between players on the
same team; knowing that there are only a certain number of openings
to advance to at any given time?: The teams I have been a part of
probably aren't the norm but we are actually pretty supportive of one another.
Every player knows that ultimately if you do your job and perform well
you will continue to advance.
Have you had any interactions with or advice from
Nolan Ryan?: Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to meet Nolan
Ryan yet. He may have seen me throw in the bullpen during spring
training, but other than that, no.
After
you signed your first contract, did you do anything to treat yourself or
celebrate with friends and family?: After I signed my contract and
received my bonus money, I decided to treat myself to a fidelity account! Not as
exciting as a car or lavish celebration, but I think I will save all of that
when I reach my ultimate goal of making it to the major leagues. I did go
out to a nice dinner with my family and a few close friends, but other than
that it was pretty low key.
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