JUPITER, Fla. (KMOX) - Alex Reyes says he expects to pitch in Grapefruit League games for the St. Louis Cardinals this spring, which would be a first for him since 2016. The 24-year-old was recently renamed the No. 1 prospect in the Cardinals organization, but he may be able to finally shake off the "prospect" title if he stays healthy in 2019.
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has been pleased with his rehab process this offseason and he came into spring training with no limitations. He's throw a live batting practice, participated (and won) the Pitchers Fielding Practice Championship and he could be used as early as this weekend in spring games for St. Louis.
Last year, the team brought Reyes along slowly through spring training after he had Tommy John surgery before spring training games in 2017. The righthander faced hitters for the first time in mid-March, before being moved to the 60-day DL following the club's signing of Greg Holland on Opening Day.
Reyes began a minor league rehab assignment in May in Jupiter for Palm Beach, and put together video game-type numbers, striking out 44 in 23 innings in four rehab starts across three levels, the exclamation point coming on May 24th for Memphis. Reyes struck out 13 Oklahoma City batters in 7 innings, at one point becoming the first PCL pitcher in 116 years to strike out 9 consecutive hitters.
Then, Reyes saw his velocity dip in his first MLB start in Milwaukee, and the rest is ... well, the eight months removed from lat surgery.
This spring, Reyes will be on an individualized plan, with the Cardinals taking lengths to tailor his rehab for the next few months. Fans will debate his best fit. Rotation? Bullpen? Perhaps closer?
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