One of the top shortstops in the MLB was Jose Reyes. He spent 16 seasons in the league and had a lot of success. Reyes played for four different teams throughout his career.

He spent most of his time playing for the New York Mets and established himself as one of the team’s top players. Reyes made multiple all-star teams and also won numerous individual awards.

How good was Jose Reyes in the MLB?

Reyes is a native of the Dominican Republic, and that is where the Mets noticed him at a camp in 1999. After watching him play, the Mets decided to offer him a contract. Reyes made his MLB debut in 2003 against the Texas Rangers. He went 2-for-4 that game. Reyes was the first teenager to play for the Mets since 1987.

In his first season, Reyes got off to a good start, but an ankle injury limited his playing time. He played in 69 games that season and finished with a .307 batting average. Over the next few seasons, Reyes continued to become a better player and started to establish himself as a top player in the league. In 2006, he made his first all-star game and won his first Silver Slugger award. From 2005 to 2007 he led the National League in stolen bases. During the 2007 season, he stole 78 bases, which was the most in his career.

Reyes could hit, play the field, and knew how to utilize his speed. He was the type of player that always liked to have fun when he played and always had a smile on his face. Though he wasn’t the biggest or tallest player on the field, he was one of the best out there.

A long career with the Mets

Reyes spent his first 12 years playing for the Mets. Everyone in New York had the opportunity to watch Reyes grow and become a top player in the league. Coming from a different country, Reyes did not know what to expect coming into the league, but he worked on his game and adjusted each season.

Reyes had a large fan base when he was in New York, and everyone loved him as a player and person. In 2010 and 2011, Reyes made the all-star team and continued to show that he was a top player in the league. In 2011 he also was the NL batting champion finishing the season with a .337 batting average.

After the 2011 season, Reyes was no longer a member of the Mets. It was tough for fans not to see him playing shortstop anymore. He became a fan favorite over those 12 years playing in the Big Apple.

Jose Reyes still wants to play baseball

After his first 12 years with the Mets, Reyes played with the Miami Marlins, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Colorado Rockies. He would join the Mets for a second stint from 2016 to 2018. After the 2018 season, Reyes could not find another team that wanted him.

In 2019, before the season started, it was reported that Reyes had no interest in retiring and wanted to play baseball still. He did not play during the 2019 season, and as of right now, there has not been any news of the 36-year-old saying that he would retire. Reyes has a career batting average of .283 with 2,138 hits, 145 home runs, 719 RBIs, and 517 stolen bases. Reyes believes he has something left in the tank and wants that opportunity to get back on the field.