Free
Preview of Premium Content
Anthony Reyes
Position: RHP
DOB: 10/16/1981
Height: 6-2
Weight: 215
Bats: R
Throws: R
School:
University of Southern California
Became a
Cardinal: Selected in the 15th round of the June, 2003 First-Year Player
Draft. Signed to a 2004 contract on August 29, 2003.
| 2005 |
G |
W-L |
IP |
Hits |
BB |
K |
ERA |
| Memphis
(AAA) |
23 |
7-6 |
128.2 |
105 |
34 |
136 |
3.64 |
| St. Louis
(MLB) |
4 |
1-1 |
13.1 |
6 |
4 |
12 |
2.70 |
Baseball America
Ranks Reyes at #11 in PCL
St. Louis Cardinals
pitching prospect Anthony Reyes was named as the No. 11 overall prospect in
the Pacific Coast League by Baseball America.
Reyes is the lone Redbird to
make Baseball America magazine's Top 20 and the fourth rated pitcher on the
list. In only his second season of professional baseball the former USC Trojan
fanned 136 in 128.2 innings on his way to a 7-6 record with a 3.64 ERA. A
complete game one-hit shutout on May 19 at Portland and a 15 strikeout
performance to set the all-time Redbirds mark on August 14 against Nashville
highlighted the right-hander's first season in Triple-A. He made his Major
League debut at Milwaukee on August 9 with 6.1 innings and a win over the
Brewers.
After the season, Reyes was
recalled by the Cardinals as part of the six September call-ups from
Memphis. After rejoining the Cards he appeared in relief three times going
0-1 in seven innings, but he did not make the post season roster.
Birdhouse Minor League Pitcher of the
Year
Recognizing the best overall season by a
pitcher in the entire St. Louis Cardinals minor league system in 2005, the
Birdhouse recently named Anthony Reyes as the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the
year.
Reyes compiled a 7-6 record in
twenty-three starts as a member of the Memphis rotation. In only his second
professional season, and pitching at the highest level in minor league baseball,
Reyes held opposing batters to a .222 average which was good for third place in
the Cardinals’ system overall and the best of any starter over class A ball
(also known as low-A).
His 1.08 WHIP landed him in second
place in the system and was again tops for any starter pitching over the class A
level. Reyes was also second among starters with his K/BB ratio of 4:1 and led
all starters with a strikeout ratio of 9.5 for every nine innings pitched. His
2.38 BB/9 IP was .02 from finishing in the top five among starters in the
system. He was seventh among starters with a 3.64 earned run average but this
category was weighted the least as it is the most teammate-dependent of the six
categories utilized.
After finishing his first season of
professional ball at the Double-A level, Reyes was assigned to Triple-A Memphis
to begin 2005. He was the second youngest pitcher on the roster, first
behind Brad Thompson and later Chris Narveson. Reyes spent
twenty days, from June 14th to July 4th, on the disabled list with a sore
shoulder.
He made his major league debut on
August 9th when he faced the Milwaukee Brewers. Reyes won that game as he
limited the Brew Crew to two earned runs on two hits, one home run, and one walk
in six and one-third innings. He struck out five.
40 days, 40 Nights, 40 Prospects
For 40 day and 40 nights, starting
early in December of 2005, the Birdhouse Staff counted down the Cardinals
Top 40 Prospects and when the votes were tallied, it was Anthony Reyes holding
on to the #1 ranking. Here is a look at the staff's comments.
Birdhouse Staff Comments
On The Top Prospect
Jason Scott (1):
"I don't think there was any doubt about Reyes No. 1 ranking. Reyes has the
stuff to be a top of the rotation starter in the major leagues. The biggest
question though, is if he can stay healthy. I am still hoping that Reyes will
win the fifth spot in the rotation in spring training."
Leonda Markee
(1): "All the ranking services agree on this slot, Anthony Reyes is the
Cardinals’ best prospect. 2005 was just his second professional season and he
spent it mainly in Triple-A Memphis and also made his Major League debut against
the Milwaukee Brewers. He held opposing batters to a .222 average while striking
out an average of 9.5 batters every nine innings. Reyes allowed less than one
home run every nine innings and compiled a 1.08 WHIP. He has little left to
prove except that he can stay healthy. The one hundred forty-two innings
(combined) he pitched in 2005 was a career high due to injuries. But there is
little doubt that he is the best the Cardinals have in their system."
Ray Mileur (1):
"Reyes is the man. He should start the season as the Cardinals #5 starter, at
least that is my opinion. The Cardinals recently signed former Baltimore
pitcher, Sidney Ponson off the scrap heap, to a guaranteed deal and he’ll likely
prevent Reyes from starting the season in the Cardinals rotation.
Anthony is the real deal
with a fastball that tops out at 96 MPH and he throws a breaking ball, slider
and change up. He has good command of the strike zone with the ability to work
hitters effectively in all four quadrants and attacks their weaknesses. Starting
another season at AAA won’t hurt him, his secondary pitches still need some
work, but I would be surprised to see him stay in Memphis for the entire season.
He’s healthy now after a series of arm injuries have held up his progress to the
majors, you can expect him to be dominate enough at Memphis to warrant a call up
to the majors before this season is over."
Brian Walton (1):
"What more can be said about Reyes at this point? Can he handle the pressure
of being a major league starter? Can his arm withstand the rigors of pitching in
the major leagues? Will Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan balance his workload and
provide the right environment so he can excel? I sure hope the answer to every
one of those questions is “yes”. If so, Reyes' minor league career is over and
the Cardinals will have a future pitching star on their hands, their biggest
since Rick Ankiel made his full-time debut in 2000."
STAFF COMMENTS
KEY: Staff Member (Individual Ranking)
Anthony Reyes
Scouting Report
The Cardinals Top Prospect, Anthony
Reyes, throws a fastball that tops out around 96 miles per hour. The
Cardinals spent the winter looking for a power pitcher, when they have one
under their nose.
He also has a curveball, slider and
changeup. He is basically a fastball - curveball pitcher who likes to work
the high and low parts of the strike zone and is very effective at changing
speeds on his fastball.
His slider is about 10 mph slower
than his fastball, however it has a tight spin on it and it breaks late,
making it almost impossible for hitters to lay off of. His changup
breaks down and out of the zone as it approaches the plate and it is hard for
batters to get good wood on the ball.
Although a series of injuries have slowed
Reyes' progress through the system, he's healthy now and he should be
a dominate force to deal with this season, that is, if he out duels
Sidney Ponson, to get the job as the
Cardinals #5 starter.
HOT STOVE LEAGUE NOTES
Two St. Louis Cardinals relievers coming off surgery are
expected to be ready at the start of spring training, with no restrictions.
RHP Braden Looper,
signed as a free agent from the New York Mets, had shoulder surgery, and LHP
Randy Flores had
spurs removed from his left elbow.
The Cardinals probably will carry seven relievers, and Jeff Nelson, a non-roster
right-hander signed as a free agent from Seattle, is a good possibility to snare
one of the open berths.
Nelson and Looper both have been much more effective against right-handed
batters than left-handers, so LHP Ricardo Rincon, better against left-handers, figures to see a
lot of important seventh- and eighth-inning time. Rincon probably will be the
No. 1 left-hander out of the bullpen, followed by Flores.
LHP Carmen Cali,
who struggled in a previous trial, had a good winter league season and might be
a candidate for a bullpen job if the Cardinals carry three left-handers.
The Cardinals announced that all 162 of their games will be televised, plus
six exhibition games. Their spring schedule is player friendly. They will play
18 of their 30 games at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.
Third base coach Jose Oquendo will manage the Puerto Rican team in the World
Baseball Classic, and first base coach Dave McKay will be a coach on the
Canadian team. Oquendo is Puerto Rican and McKay is Canadian.
RHP Jason Marquis'
new contract, priced at $5.15 million, also features a $50,000 bonus if he
repeats the Silver Slugger award he won for his offensive prowess last
season.
For more content like this report, subscribe to theStlCardinals.com
today! Only $79.95 brings you one full year of Total Access
Pass and all the premium content on the Birdhouse and unlimited
access to the entire Scout.com Network (over 200 sites). This includes; in-depth minor league team and
prospect coverage, complete coverage of fall and winter Leagues, thorough
winter meetings and Spring Training coverage, Scout Player and Roster Database
(including the "Hot News" at the top of the site) breaking news and
information.
Sample the StlCardinals.com
Total Access Pass at no risk for 7 days, then pay only $7.95 monthly or
$21.95 for a three month pass or you can save 17% by ordering the Annual
Total Access Pass for just $79.95.
For the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals anywhere (over 1500 articles in 2005) subscribe to the Birdhouse today.