Anthony Reyes

Anthony Loza Reyes

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 215 lb.
• School University of Southern California
• High School California High School (Whittier)
• Debut August 9, 2005
• Final Game May 22, 2009
• Born October 16, 1981 in Downey, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Anthony Reyes was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 15th round of the 2003 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Nakia Hill and made his pro debut the next summer.

At the beginning of 2006, Reyes was with the Memphis Redbirds, with the understanding that, in the case of any injury to a Cardinal starter, he would be the first promoted to fill the spot. He had made his major league debut with the Redbirds in 2005. He was 1-1, 2.70 in 4 appearances in his first taste of major league baseball. He had been ranked among the top 50 prospects in baseball by Baseball America prior to both the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

On June 23, 2006, Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder was placed on the disabled list with what would turn out to be a career-ending injury. 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 Sox scored 33 runs. 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 given up to Jim Thome. The Cardinals offense could not respond in kind and the White Sox won, 1-0. Reyes pitched a complete game and took the loss. He stayed with the team for the remainder of the year, making 17 starts with a record of 5-8, 5.06 and a solid 72/34 K/W ratio in 85.1 innings.

During the Cardinals' 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 recalled him to the roster in place of starting pitcher Jason Marquis. Reyes started Game 4 against the Mets and pitched four innings, taking a no-decision. He pitched the first game of the 2006 World Series for the Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers and earned the win, pitching 8 innings, retiring 17 batters in a row (a World Series record for a rookie) only giving up 2 runs, and earning player of the game honors. Reyes and the Cardinals eventually won the Series, defeating the Tigers four games to one.

The storybook beginning to his career did not last, however. In 2007, he posted a woeful 2-14 record in 22 games, with an ERA over 6.00 and was sent back to the minor leagues. He pitched slightly better as a reliever with the Cards in 2008, going 2-1, 4.91 with 10 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. On July 26, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Luis Perdomo and made 6 solid starts for his new team at the end of the season, going 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA. He was given a slot in the starting rotation to begin 2009, but fell back, posting a 6.57 ERA over 8 starts and issuing 23 walks in 38 innings before his season ended with arm woes. He missed all of 2009 recovering and only began pitching again in the minors in July 2010.

After retiring as a player, he became a firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006

Further Reading

• Jenifer Langosch: "Former Cardinal Reyes fighting wildfires in LA: After retiring in 2012, pitcher began lifelong goal of second career", mlb.com, December 7, 2017. [1]

Related Sites

• USC bio