MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 12: Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run home run in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 12, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The former New York Mets shortstop is hanging up his cleats for good.
Back in 2003, a young shortstop made his official debut for the New York Mets. That game would be the first of many for Jose Reyes, a consistent hitter that killed the opposition with his speed on the base paths.
On Wednesday, Reyes took to Twitter to announced his retirement from the game of baseball after 16 seasons. Reyes last played in MLB back in 2018 following his second stint with the Mets.
Reyes had an eventful MLB career.
Reyes was a massive star in New York where he assumed duties on the left side of the infield alongside third baseman David Wright. In his initial tenure with the Mets, Reyes was named to the All-Star Game four times (2006-07, 2010-11) and a Silver Slugger award in 2006. But his grandest year of them all came in 2011, where he accumulated an MLB-best .337 batting average, along with a league-high 16 triples and 44 RBI, earning him an NL Batting Title.
Ironically, 2011 was the final year on Reyes’ deal with the Mets. After investigating the open market, Reyes opted to sign a six-year, $106 million contract with the Miami Marlins. Reyes would last only one year in South Beach, as the team failed to live up to their lofty expectations, and was ultimately flipped to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2012 blockbuster trade.
Reyes could never replicate his numbers during his nine-year tenure in Queens, NY. He battled numerous injuries and found himself bouncing around to the Colorado Rockies and the Metropolitans for his final three pro seasons.
All in all, Reyes had a .283/.334/.427 slash line, while recording 2,138 hits, 1,180 runs, 145 home runs and 719 RBI. A lengthy career that won’t be forgotten, especially for those Mets fans who proudly wore his jersey throughout their childhood.