Drafted in the 2nd round (43rd overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2003 (signed for $800,000).
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Reyes has enough qualities to warrant first-round consideration, but his 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame may get in his way. He's built along the lines of David Wells and Dennys Reyes and will need to watch his weight. For some scouts, he's a what-you-see-is-what-you-get player. What you see is a pitcher who has a free and easy arm, is very competitive, knows how to pitch and is athletic enough to play an everyday position in college (Southern California). His fastball sits at 89-90 mph and tops out at 93. He has two other fringe-average pitches, a curve and a changeup, and commands his pitches well. Some clubs see him as a fourth- or fifth-rounder, but there's interest in the supplemental first-round--particularly by the Braves, who have two such picks and have made lefthanded pitching a priority.
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The 43rd overall pick in the 2003 draft, Reyes had Tommy John surgery in 2004 and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee after returning in 2005. Finally healthy in 2006, Reyes earned the starting nod in the South Atlantic League all-star game. Reyes is a thick-bodied lefthander who does a good job of keeping hitters off balance. His four-seam fastball sits in the low 90s and appears harder due to his deceptive delivery. He also has an overhand curveball and a solid changeup with good movement. He has an abundance of confidence and relishes being atop a rotation. Injuries have been the biggest roadblock to Reyes' progress. Because he never had built up his endurance, he ran out of gas while pitching 141 innings in 2006--67 more than his previous career high. Reyes body offers nothing in the way of projection, and he'll have to watch his weight. Reyes is back on track and will pitch in Double-A as a 22-year-old. He could become a No. 3 or 4 starter in the major leagues.
The Braves gave serious thought to drafting Reyes with their first pick in the supplemental first round and were thrilled when they grabbed him in the second round (43rd overall) last June. He made a seamless move from high school to Rookie ball, which included six scorless innings in his Gulf Coast League playoff start. He reminded many coaches in the organization of a stockier version of Horacio Ramirez. Reyes has a quick arm action and can throw three pitches for strikes. His delivery creates incredible deception, which makes his 90-93 mph fastball look like 95. He also shows a good feel for pitching and can mix his fastball, changeup and slider well, particularly for a young southpaw. Though some scouts were scared of Reyes' body, which they compared to David Wells', Reyes is a good athlete who dropped 30 pounds before the draft. Nevertheless, he'll have to stay in shape in order to live up to his enormous potential. He's slated to open 2004 in the low Class A rotation.
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Because of his stuff, frame and profile, Reyes gets compared Horacio Ramirez, who likewise signed with the Braves out of a southern California high school. Reyes made 14 starts at Mississippi before spending three months in the majors when injuries beset Atlanta's pitching staff. He struggled but did win two of his last three starts and posted a 3.10 ERA in September. Reyes doesn't have a true put-away pitch, but he has five weapons at his disposal, headlined by a fastball that ranges from 88-94 mph. He can add and subtract from his fastball, and also throws a cutter in the high 80s. His solid-average slider is his best secondary pitch, which he complements with a usable changeup and curve. He's erratic with his command at times, and Reyes has lapses when a series of mistakes leads to big innings. He profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. "He's a guy for me," the second scout said. "He can speed up and slow down bats, and he has enough effective wildness and enough stuff to get away with some of his inconsistency."
Reyes was the most polished of Atlanta's young pitching prospects and led the team in strikeouts. But at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Reyes' body may get away from him at some point, especially if he doesn't work harder. His stuff also isn't quite as good as Stevens'. Reyes has an excellent mound presence and can throw four pitches for strikes, including an 89-92 mph fastball and an outstanding changeup. "He competes well," Dodgers manager Luis Salazar said. "He works aggressively and has great composure. His fastball is also very tough on righthanded hitters."
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