# Prospect Profile: Alex Reyes

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/prospect-profile-alex-reyes/
- Published: 2016-06-09T19:46:01-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

Alex Reyes is a top 10 prospect in baseball, but more recently his name has been linked to a marijuana suspension that’s kept him out of the first 50 games this year. Does the suspension hurt his stock, or can the Cardinals use it in their favor? Profile Alex Reyes, RHP Bats Throws Height Weight DOB R Right 6’3″ 185 08/29/1994 Acquired School 2012 International Free Agent No School (Dominican Republic) Reyes was actually born in New York, but moved to the Dominican to bypass the MLB draft and sign at an earlier age. As a result, he received a $950,000 bonus when the Cardinals signed him in 2012. Reyes owns a high 90s fastball – which touches triple digits often – that he can blow by a lot of guys in the minors. Baseball America rated it 80 on the scouting scale (out of 80) and was only 1 of 3 to receive that score on their top 100 prospects. To go with the heat, he’s worked on a sinker that had good movement and generates a lot of ground balls. He also boasts a good curve and a developing change. The 12-to-6 curve is already above average, and he can use it as an out pitch; the pitch sits in the low 80s. The change is inconsistent; his arm speed provides great deception but he struggles to get regular movement on it; this one sits in the high 80s. That consistency is because of his release point; he can typically repeat his mechanics, but he has the tendency to over-throw when he loses the release point. He also has the tendency to throw across his body, which could lead to potential injury down the line; most scouts aren’t worried about that though. Video Watch this video on YouTube Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis CardinalsWatch this video on YouTube Reyes' eighth strikeout for MemphisWatch this video on YouTube Stats While the record hasn’t shown it, Reyes has pretty good numbers. He strikes out a ton of guys and really limits hits. His issue is the command; his walk numbers, while improving, are still pretty high; he did make strides in lowering his walks from 2014 to 2015, and is on pace to lower it further this year. I think these rates are a little more interesting. This season, a hitter has a 50% shot to get a strikeout or walk against Reyes. His K/9 number is ridiculous this season too. Rankings Average Median Mode Total Low High My Rank 1.00 1.00 1 26 1 1 1 Reyes was the consensus #1 player in the Cardinals system across every ranking I found. In fact, it wasn’t even close; most of the second place guys were split between a few different options. Nationally, Reyes made all Top 100 lists and was in the Top 10 in most of them. In the bigger publications, he ranked 7th by Baseball America, 10th by Baseball Prospectus, and XX by Keith Law of ESPN (MLB.com was the exception with him at 11). Even the lesser rankings had him ranked high: 5th by