Anthony Reyes

Infobox MLB player
name=Anthony Reyes

---

width=300
position=Starting pitcher
team=Cleveland Indians
number=27
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|10|16
debutdate=August 9
debutyear=2005
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
statyear=September 6, 2008
stat2label=Win-Loss
stat2value=12-25
stat3label=Earned run average
stat3value=4.91
stat4label=Strikeouts
stat4value=183
teams=
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|2005–by|2008)
*Cleveland Indians (by|2008-present)

Anthony Loza Reyes (born October 16, 1981 in Whittier, California) is a right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. Reyes is known to be superstitious, often wearing a flat-billed cap and long baseball socks. Contrary to popular belief, Reyes does not iron the bill of his hat, rather, he cuts out some of the inner lining of the hat, which allows for the bill to lie flatter due to the way the hat fits his head.

Reyes has a younger brother, Erik, who pitched for Concordia University Irvine in by|2007. cite news| title=Concordia University Irvine Baseball Roster |url=http://www.cui.edu/athletics/men/baseball/index_ektid3510.aspx |publisher=Concordia University Irvine |date= 2007-01-20 |accessdate=2007-11-24]

College career

Reyes spent his college years at the University of Southern California from 2000–2003, and though he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round of the by|2002 amateur draft, he elected to return to school for his senior year. cite news| title=2002 First-Year Player Draft |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/components/draftday/mlb_draft_search_round_13_1.html |publisher=MLB |date= 2002-06-05 |accessdate=2007-11-29] He was on several USC teams with San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Prior. In four seasons with the Trojans, Reyes compiled a 17-16 record and earned Pac-10 honors three times. cite news| title=Player BIo: Anthony Reyes |url=http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/reyes_anthony00.html |publisher=University of Southern California |date= 2002-11-01 |accessdate=2007-11-29] He was drafted in the 15th round by the St. Louis Cardinals in by|2003. cite news| title=2003 Draft: Round 15 |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/cgi-bin/03draftdb_rnd.cgi?rnd=15 |publisher=Baseball America |date= 2003-06-08 |accessdate=2007-11-29]

Professional career

Reyes was eventually considered the top pitching prospect in the St. Louis farm system. He spent the by|2004 season initially with the Palm Beach Cardinals, where he compiled a 3-0 record with a 4.66 ERA, and then later with the Tennessee Smokies, where he achieved a 6-2 record with a 2.91 ERA. cite news| title=Anthony Reyes MLB Baseballat CBSSports.com |url=http://sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/546241 |publisher=CBS Sports |date= 2007-11-09 |accessdate=2007-11-29]

After a solid by|2005 season with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, Reyes was given a chance to prove himself in the major leagues. On August 9, at Miller Park, Reyes threw 6 1/3 innings in his debut start against the Milwaukee Brewers, earning the win and giving up just two runs on two hits. He was demoted immediately after the game, having fulfilled his role of giving the regular rotation an extra day's rest by manager Tony La Russa.

Reyes opened the by|2006 season with Memphis. He was recalled to St. Louis June 23 when Mark Mulder was placed on the disabled list. As a result, Reyes was asked to start the final game of a three game series against the Chicago White Sox. In the previous two games, the White Sox scored 33 runs against the Cardinals. In the third game Reyes threw 90 pitches, 67 for strikes, had six strikeouts and no walks, and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. The only White Sox hit was a home run by Jim Thome. The Cardinals offense could not respond in kind and the White Sox won 1-0. Reyes pitched an eight inning complete game and took the loss despite giving up only the one hit (albeit a home run) to Thome. He also struck out six and walked none.

During the Cardinals' 2006 playoff run, Reyes was left off the roster for the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. However, after advancing to the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, the Cardinals added him to the roster in place of starting pitcher Jason Marquis. Reyes started Game 4 of the series and pitched four innings, taking a no-decision. He pitched the first game of the 2006 World Series and earned the win, pitching eight innings and retiring 17 consecutive batters from the first through the sixth inning, a World Series record for a rookie. Reyes gave up two runs and earned player of the game honors. The Cardinals went on to win the series, defeating the Detroit Tigers four games to one. cite news| title=Rookie Reyes delivers Game 1 victory |url=http://www.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20061021&content_id=1720173&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl |publisher=MLB |date= 2006-10-22 |accessdate=2007-11-24]

After starting the by|2007 season 0-8 with a 6.08 ERA (although he had the worst run support in the majors), the Cardinals optioned him to Memphis on May 27. Todd Wellemeyer replaced him in the Cardinals starting rotation. He made three strong starts for the Redbirds and was recalled to St. Louis June 16, but was optioned back to Memphis again on July 2. Reyes was called up again from Memphis to make a spot start in a doubleheader against Milwaukee. He pitched well allowing 2 runs on two hits.

Reyes began the by|2008 season in St. Louis' bullpen, going 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA before being demoted to Triple-A Memphis. He went 2-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 11 starts at Memphis.

On July 26, 2008, Reyes was traded to the Cleveland Indians for right-handed reliever Luis Perdomo and cash. The trade was made because of Reyes' dwindling relationship with Cardinal manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan. He had disagreements with Duncan over what kind of pitcher he was going to be at the Major League level. Reyes wanted to be a power pitcher, utilizing his low-to-mid 90s fastball, while Duncan preferred him to become a ground ball pitcher and develop his sinker.fact|date=July 2008

On August 8, 2008, the Indians promoted Reyes from Triple-A Buffalo. That same day, he made his first start for Cleveland, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing just 1 run, and picked up the win.

References

External links

* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7518 ESPN.com Player Card] - "Career statistics and analysis"
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/reyesan01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=261021106 Recap] of Reyes' World Series victory