 "Jose Reyes Struggles With Injury"He was born in the house of Jose Manuel and Josefina Reyes, Jose. Jose born at Villa Gonzalez, Dominican Republic on 11 June 1983 and has a younger sister Meosote. The Reyes family had limited means but parents Manuel and Josefina Reyes made sure their children were happy and always provided for. Baseball didn’t catch Jose’s attention until he was 10yrs old; his father liked to play baseball and was a good player and Jose used to watch his father play. After a few games Jose became interested in the game and started learning baseball and playing with his friends. 
Jose went to Liceoi Delia Reyes High School in the Dominican Republic and never had the opportunity to watch professional players either on TV or on the field. This proved to be a unique advantage as he learnt developed his own style instead of following any preset leads. Jose kept on practicing on his own and he had gained speed and a strong arm at batting but his technique was still missing. Then in a camp held by the Mets in Santiago, Jose was signed by scout Tolledo for $22,000. Tolledo had confidence in the young player he was recruiting and saw a lot of potential in him as a future Major League player. This was an achievement for Jose who was still awaiting his 16th birthday. The Mets proved to be a boon for Jose as he not only got to play the game he loved but Josehe gained from the professional training which till then he had lacked. He also got encouragement and all the right opportunities to build his career. Jose proved to be a good student he learned quickly and improved with every passing day. During his Minor League years he was awarded the Player of the Year consecutively for 2001 and 2002. Jose was never in a hurry to join the Major Leagues and steadily made his way up. Jose made his Major League debut on 10 June 2003 for the New York Mets. Jose ended the season with 69 games, 32 RBI’s and batting average of .307. He is the second youngest Major League player. Jose throws right and bats switch. It has not all been smooth and easy for Jose, he had to face changes when Matsui was signed by the Mets in 2004 and he was shifted to second base. Jose accepted the change but injuries hindered his performance and he ended the season with 56 hits, 14 RBI’s and batting average of .255. Jose struggled with his injuries in 2005 was able to end the season with 190 hits, 58 RBI’s and batting average of .273. 2006, with a full bill of health, saw his game improve with a 20-20 record. Jose became the fifth and the youngest player in baseball history to have 20 stolen bases, 20 triples, 20 doubles and 20 home runs in a single season. Jose happy with his success still remains humble and says he still has a lot to achieve. Jose continued his record breaking performance to the year 2007; with his 66th and 67th SB Jose broke the record for most stolen bases by Roger Cedeon in a single season. He ended the season with 191 hits, 57 RBI’s, 78 SB and batting average of .280. With all his success and awards Jose still remains attached to his roots, he makes every effort to bring happiness to his family and friends in his homeland. Jose believes he is playing his favorite game professionally. He is a natural on the field and claims to be the same simple person he always was. Awards And Accolades
National League Silver Slugger June(12 to18 and 19 to 25) National League Player Of The Week
Get It Fast! Get It Express! McFarlanes Xpress It!
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