Written by Greg Fertel
|
06 June 2007
- Age: 20
- Height: 5'11"
- Weight: 170
- Acquired: Signed out of the D.R.
- Position: Starting Pitcher
- Throws: Left
Scouting Report: Reyes throws 92-93 with deception on most days, although he can get it up to the 95 mph when he wants. He has a killer strikeout curveball and a developing changeup to go along with it. Reyes has control problems. I'm not sure if he is overthrowing or what, but on some nights Reyes' control just collapsed and he didn't really know where the ball was going. On other nights, no one could even make contact off him. He's got that dynamic kind of stuff that could take him anywhere he wants.
History: The Yankees brought Reyes in from the Dominican Summer League last season at the age of 19. He blew away the Gulf Coast League, pitching 46 2/3 innings with a 1.35 ERA, striking out 45 and walking 14. He held batters to .156/.222/.206, and finished the season out in Staten Island with 17 2/3 innings with a 1.53 ERA and 16 strikeouts against 6 walks. The Yankees decided to send him to Charleston.
This Season: Reyes started the season with a jaw-dropping performance, striking out 9 in 3 1/3 innings in his first start. He allowed just 5 hits in his first 13 innings, before things started to go down hill. He went down with an "upper body injury" on May 13th and hasn't pitched since. His line on the season is 31 innings pitched, 33 strikeouts, 21 (!) walks, and a 4.65 ERA. He's been having a lot of trouble the second and (when he manages to get there) 3rd time through the order, with batters hitting .142/.277/.257 in the first three innings and .326/.436/.435 after.
Outlook and Movement: Reyes will spend the remainder of the season in Charleston, and the Yankees will probably make some kind of determination about his long term home. A lot of factors point toward a move to the bullpen for him. Reyes is a small guy, loses effectiveness the second time through the order, and hasn't been able to throw at his maximum velocity with command. However, Reyes is very young and I can't see the Yankees moving him into the bullpen immediately. He'll get more experience pitching more innings as a starting pitcher, and if he does work out in the starting role, the results will be golden. He's a long way from the majors.
Ranking: I really wanted to rate Reyes higher, like a lot of the guys in the upper teens. However, I get really worried about his control issues. So many promising pitchers (like say, Abel Gomez) have all the stuff in the world but can't locate it. I can't rate him any lower though, because of the potential. Reyes is going to be a hit or miss guy. If we hit, either in the bullpen or as a starting pitcher, we'll benefit from one of the more unhittable pitchers in the league. I could easily see Reyes becoming a B.J. Ryan type reliever. He'll probably never have great control, but if he can cut the walks down a little bit, he'll be effective. I have him rated slightly below Chase Wright, because Wright is a lot closer to the major leagues and a lot safer of a bet.
