Jose Reyes, the veteran infielder of the New York Mets is currently playing in his fifteenth major league season and his twelfth with the team. Since his debut as a young 20- year old short stop, Reyes has been a spark plug in the Mets’ lineup and a crucial part of that fantastic 2006 team that took the St. Louis Cardinals to seven games in the National League Championship Series.
Thursday afternoon, at El Paisa Bat Restaurant in the vicinity of Citi Field, Felix DeJesus and ESPN Deportes Impact Radio held a press conference and promotion that celebrated his career in baseball and with the Mets.
The Dominican Republic native has not only had a large influence on the field for the Mets, but throughout the neighborhoods of New York City as well. With plenty of Hispanic ball players throughout the city, Reyes has been a role model and favorite player for hundreds of young athletes. This was shown Thursday with a large turnout of young Queens ball players coming for their opportunity to meet and take pictures with the Met infielder.
At El Paisa, Reyes answered questions from the media while accepting plaques and awards for his successful career and large influence. Reyes gave his parents and God much of the credit for where he is today saying in his native Spanish language.
“First of all I want to give thanks to God. But I was blessed with amazing parents that allowed me to be whatever I wanted to be growing up.”
Being a proud son of the Dominican Republic, Reyes is excited that the league has been filled with so much talent coming from his country and he has done his best over the years to befriend and mentor his country mates.
“There are so many other Dominicans that I consider brothers” said Reyes. “Edwin Encarnacion right now is my guy, he’s my best friend. But there are so many of us [Dominicans] that great players in this league and also great friends of mine.” Reyes continued.
Reyes has had a long and successful career, but this season has been his worst by far. Reyes followed up the ceremony with an 0- for- 3 performance against the rival Washington Nationals at Citi Field as the Mets dropped the first game of an important four game series by a score of 8-3.
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