The Mets have hyped a lot of young players over the years only to end up with egg on their faces. Now it looks like they finally have the real deal in Jose Reyes, who possesses quick hands, blazing speed and a live bat—not to mention a smile made for New York City billboards. The youngest Met since Dwight Gooden and the best homegrown position player since Darryl Strawberry, Jose literally lives to play baseball. This is his story…

GROWING UP

Jose Bernabe Reyes was born on June 11, 1983, in Villa Gonzalez in the Dominican Republic. He grew up in the nearby village of Palmar Arriba, on the outskirts of Santiago, in the northern part of the country. From his father, Jose Manuel, the youngster inherited his baseball genes and work ethic. From his mother, Josefina—known to her friends as Rosa—he got his long legs and million-dollar smile.

Jose and his parents lived on a dirt road near a banana grove. They were not wealthy—the only bathroom was an outhouse—but Jose and his younger sister, Meosote, always had food on the table. When Jose began to show signs of becoming a special athlete, his parents stuffed him with fruit and rice and meat to make sure he grew.

Baseball did not captivate Jose at first. His father played in town, on a crude diamond carved in the foothills of the Pico Diego Ocampo mountains. His friends played too, but Jose was not interested in the sport until he was 10 years old. After he got the bug, he began hanging around his father’s games, begging to get in on the action.

Around the age of 12 or 13, Jose started to take baseball very seriously. Since he didn’t own a glove, and his father did not have the extra cash to buy him one, he fielded his position—usually shortstop—barehanded, or made a mitt out of a milk carton. By age 15 he was without question the best player in town. When his youth league team traveled for tournaments and away games, dozens—and sometimes hundreds—of his neighbors would follow to root for Jose.

The Dominican Republic was a hotbed of future major leaguers, but not one had ever risen from the Jose’s village. The Reyes family did not own a television, so Jose never patterned his game after anyone in the big leagues. He was an original in every sense of the word. Months before his 16th birthday, Jose began to tinker with the idea of switch-hitting when his father told him that the skill might make him more appealing to scouts.

Jose stood six feet tall and weighed 130 pounds when he wandered into a tryout camp for the Mets during the summer of 1999. It was held in Santiago, not too far from his home. Scouts Eddy Toledo and Juan Mercado recognized a future star the instant they spotted him. Jose distinguished himself from the other boys with his strong arm, terrific range and incredible coordination. He also had real charisma. Toledo, known as a scout who goes with his gut, says it was like Jose had a halo around his head.

Jose had worked out for several other clubs, but failed to grab anyone’s attention. Toledo—who had also discovered Octavio Dotel and Quilvio Veras—urged Omar Minaya, who headed up New York’s international scouting, to let him sign the scrawny teen. Minaya consulted assistant GM Jim Duquette, but he hesitated after seeing Jose’s height and weight. When Duquette heard that the Cubs were sniffing around, however, he had a change of heart. Toledo got approved to offer a $22,000 bonus, and Jose signed in mid-August. His parents used the money to open a small bodega.

As a rule, the Mets send kids like Jose to their Dominican baseball academy to start their pro careers. In Jose’s case, Duquette decided he would test him with the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League for the 2000 season.

Manager Edgar Alfonzo (older brother of Met third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo) needed a utility infielder, so he planned to play the teenager on a regular basis. Duquette, still concerned that Jose would be overwhelmed, told Alfonzo that he didn’t want the youngster on the field that often until he proved he could hack it. The Kingsport manager called Duquette three days later and said forget it—he was going to put the 16-year-old out there every day.

Jose was relieved to find himself part of a team with more than a dozen Spanish-speaking players. The key figure in his first pro season was hitting coach Juan Lopez. Lopez found housing for Jose and the other Latinos on the roster in the same complex, and took an apartment there, too. He was a father figure to the teenagers, driving them to the ballpark in a van for each game, helping them cash paychecks at the bank, and walking them through the local grocery store.

Lopez also worked with Jose to make him a better switch-hitter. Batting lefthanded felt awkward at first, but under the coach’s tutelage, Jose made steady progress. He did all right in the short-season rookie league, batting .250 in 49 games.

ON THE RISE

In 2001, Jose was assigned to the Class-A Capital City Mets. He was pleased to find a few familiar faces on the club, including Lopez, who scouted out an apartment for him and arranged for third baseman Enrique Cruz to be his roommate. Cruz had been a teammate in Kingsport the year before.

Jose flourished in the field and at the plate, hitting .307 with 42 extra-base hits and earning organization Player of the Year honors. He was remarkably steady at shortstop, committing only 18 errors.

That winter, Jose was asked to play for Los Pollos, the worst team in the Dominican Winter League. A reserve, he held his own against major-league-caliber pitching.

Jose’s reward for his breakthrough 2001 campaign was an invitation to the big-league camp in the spring of 2002. There he impressed everyone who saw him. He watched and learned, peppered the veterans with questions, and handled the press very intelligently. As the only five-tool minor leaguer in the organization, he was constantly questioned on when he thought he would reach the majors. Jose told one reporter that he hoped to challenge Rey Ordonez for the starting job sometime in 2003. Realizing his breach of etiquette, he refused to repeat this claim when pressed by others in the media and kept his mouth shut the rest of the way.

Ordonez didn’t seem to take it personally. He worked with Jose, and explained to him that the key to fielding wizardry was to relax, be confident and let the game develop at its own pace. Roberto Alomar worked with Jose too, sharing some of the fine points of playing second base, a position where Jose knew he might end up some day. Alomar also talked to the teen about the mindset he’d need to develop into a successful hitter. A quick study, Jose started swinging a hot bat. In one spring-training game, he doubled and tripled.

Jose was sent to New York’s minor-league camp after a few weeks. The big leaguers he left behind were unanimous in their fondness for Jose, whose personality won them over. The coaching staff liked how easily he picked up on their advice. And manager Bobby Valentine said he was the best player he’d ever seen at that age. To no one’s surprise, Jose was named the team’s top rookie in camp that spring.

Jose was assigned to St. Lucie in the high-A Florida State League. Most everyone agreed his fielding was already good enough for the majors. The uncertainty was his stick. The organization felt the FSL was a good place to start him, with the idea that he would be promoted as soon as he proved he could handle the pitching there. St. Lucie manager Ken Oberkfell, a lefty-hitting infielder in his playing days, continued to work with Jose on his switch-hitting.

Jose liked Florida. In his first two years, there were virtually no Spanish-speaking people in the towns in which he had played. By contrast, the St. Lucie area was home to thousands of Dominicans and Cubans.

In the first three months of the season, Jose hit consistently, showed flashes of power, and stole a ton of bases. That was all the Mets needed to see, as they promoted him to Class-AA Binghamton. One of only a handful of teenagers ever to play in the Eastern League, he collected five hits and four RBIs in his first game. A few days later, he was named to the World team for the 2002 Futures Game in Milwaukee's Miller park. For Jose, this was a tremendous honor—he remembered hearing about how his countryman, Alfonso Soriano, turned heads with his performance in the 1999 contest.

Jose, the starting second baseman, came up in the third inning with the bases jammed and lined a triple to right-center off Colorado prospect Aaron Cook. As he stood on third, he soaked in the roar of 37,000 fans—more than four times larger than any crowd he had ever seen. Jose’s three-bagger keyed the World’s 5-1 victory over the U.S. squad, and earned him the Larry Doby Award as game MVP.

Reporters immediately asked Jose whether he was ready for the majors. The Mets had imploded, and it was only a matter of time before the call-ups started. Jose acknowledged that he had his eye on the situation in New York, and said he was confident he would do well if given the chance. He added that the more important thing on his mind was simply improving day to day.

Jose played out the season in Binghamton, where the pitchers eventually caught up to him. Still, in 65 games, he hit .287 with 26 extra-base hits and 27 steals (which gave him 58 swipes on the season). Overall, he had 19 triples, which led the minor leagues. Jose also learned a lot about the game from catcher Jimmy Gonzalez, who took him under his wing and acted as his unofficial interpreter. Manager Howie Freiling couldn’t believe how quickly Jose — who just weeks past his 19th birthday was performing on the same level as guys in their mid-20s—got his bearings.

MAKING HIS MARK

At this point, Jose had reached his full height of 6-2, and had beefed up to 180 pounds. More advanced at the plate than other top shortstop prospects like Wilson Betemit and Brandon Phillips, he had fanned just 58 times in nearly 600 at bats in '02—a stat that screamed “leadoff hitter.” Jose’s fielding skills and instincts were gaining the polish required to make the jump to the majors, while his arm was getting stronger and more accurate.

After the season ended, the Mets went shopping for a new manager. Lou Piniella seemed to be a terrific fit, but the Seattle Mariners blocked his way to New York. When he went instead to Tampa Bay, the Mets were still interested. The Devil Rays agreed to let him go, with one catch: they wanted Jose as compensation. That ended the conversation.

Jose, an unknown a year earlier, was one of the most closely watched players in the Dominican Republic during the winter of 2002-03. He was now the everyday shortstop for Los Gigantes del Cibao.

On December 15, the Mets announced a trade of Rey Ordonez—who had called Mets fans “stupid” that summer—to the Devil Rays. With no other shortstop in sight, it looked like they were handing the job to Jose. But two weeks later the club signed veteran Rey Sanchez to a one-year deal. The plan was to let Jose mature in the minors while Sanchez kept the spot warm for him. The move also made sense because Sanchez was a solid utility player, something Ordonez was not.

Jose finished out the winter with a .270 average and led the league in triples and stolen bases, despite a strained quad muscle that finished his season prematurely. Coach Luis Natera was amazed at how graceful and easy Jose made the game look. He called him the most exciting player in the Dominican Republic that winter, marveling that he acted like he was just fooling around in his backyard.

Jose arrived at the Mets spring camp in February, and was given the locker next to Sanchez. Accompanying Jose was Naleson Silverio, the GM of Los Gigantes, whom the Mets hired as a bullpen catcher. Juan Lopez, Jose's old hitting coach, was also hired by the team.

The New Tork brass allowed that Jose might go north with the team if he had a huge spring, but in all likelihood he would begin the year at Class-AAA, with the Norfolk Tides. New Mets manager Art Howe, who had developed Miguel Tejada in Oakland, looked forward to working Jose into his lineup sooner rather than later. He knew that, at the same age, Jose was the better ball player.

As planned, the teenager was optioned out to Norfolk, where after six weeks he had nothing left to prove in the minors. He was hitting well, fielding brilliantly, and on pace to steal 100 bases.

Howe’s desire to have Jose on the big club grew as the season progressed. Despite the addition of Tom Glavine and Cliff Floyd, the Mets were going into the toilet for the second straight year. Major injuries to Mike Piazza and Mo Vaughn sapped the lineup of its power and eventually convinced management to start playing the team’s younger talent.

On June 5, Sanchez strained his left thumb and later went on the DL. Jose was called up just in time to celebrate his 20th birthday in a major league uniform. He made his debut against the Texas Rangers, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs in a 9-7 loss. Jose grabbed the ball after the game and sent it to his parents.

The Mets eschewed any changing-of-the-guard talk after the game, promising Jose would be sent back to Norfolk as soon as Sanchez was healthy again. But Jose had another scenario in mind. A few days later, against the Anaheim Angels, he broke up a pitcher’s duel with a grand slam off Jarrod Washburn. He collected three hits in all, leading the Mets to an 8-0 victory. Against the Florida Marlins three days later, Jose went wild again, hammering a triple with the bags full and adding a run-scoring double in a 10-5 win.

When Sanchez came off the DL in early July, fans at Shea Stadium prayed that Jose would stay in New York. The Mets answered those prayers by keeping their rookie in the lineup. Jose’s average took a dip the second time around the league, but by the end of August, he adjusted and saw his production climb. On August 27, against the Atlanta Braves, Jose hit a righthanded homer off Mike Hampton and a lefthanded homer against Trey Hodges to become the youngest player in history to do so. In that same game, he made a great backhanded stop in the hole, then gunned out the runner at first—from his knees.

Jose’s season ended a few days later when he sprained his ankle breaking up a double play. His final numbers were impressive for a rookie of any age. In 69 games, he batted .307 with 32 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

After the season, the Mets went shopping for a hitter to team with Jose at the top of the lineup. They ended up with Japanese import Kazuo Matsui, whose only condition upon signing was that he get first crack at his regular position: shortstop. Jose had always known that he might have to shift to second, but he never figured it would happen this way.

Second base can be a tricky position to learn in a hurry, especially at the major-league level, but the Mets seemed confident that Jose could pull it off. If so, the team figured to have an impressive up-the-middle defense, with Mike Cameron manning centerfield behind Jose and “Little Matsui.”

Matsui knew he was ruffling some pretty important feathers, and said all the right things about Jose in the press. He did not ask for #7 (Jose's number), which he wore in Japan, a peace offering that was not insignificant among players. The pair reached out to each other on the field, learning common phrases that would allow them to communicate effectively during games.

The expectations for Jose in the Big Apple were astronomical heading into 2004. But they were tempered early on when he suffered a strained hamstring, an injury that prevented him from playing until June 19th. The longer Jose spent on the DL, the more the media and fans questioned him. Some wondered whether he was secretly angry about his position change, and this was his form of protest. Others were puzzled how someone so young could be so brittle.

When Jose did return, the Mets were in the midst of a heated race in the NL East with the Marlins, Phillies and Braves—a development that had the faithful at Shea on Cloud Nine. Management reacted by pulling the trigger on a pair of deals that brought two quality arms, Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano. But the promising campaign quickly turned sour, as New York was beset by injuries and a dismal lack of production. Jose was among those who went down, this time with a bad back. Others joining him on the DL were Matsui and Zambrano, while Piazza and Floyd struggled to put up their usual numbers.

Jose eventually wound up on the 60-day disabled list. He came back in late September, when the Mets were fighting to stay out of the basement in the NL East. With little to gain from his activation, he collected just seven hits in the final nine games. By that time the Mets were pondering what went wrong. After the season, Howe was relieved of his duties, and general manager Jim Duquette was demoted in favor of Omar Minaya, who assumed control of all baseball operations.

The Mets' future remains tied very closely to Jose. He was limited to 53 games in '04, and didn't do much when he was in the lineup. Jose hit only .255 and posted a woeful .271 on-base percentage. Chances are he and Matsui will filp-flop in 2005, and with young stud David Wright at third, New York still has the potential for a solid infield. The combo may also bat 1-2-3, giving the team speed and power at the top of the order, if everyone stays healthy. Unfortunately, with Jose, that's a big if.

The first thing baseball people notice about Jose is that he clearly understands the game. None of his natural ability goes to waste—when he makes a play or gets his pitch, he knows exactly what to do.

Unlike many skinny shortstops who fill out in their teens and 20s, Jose has maintained his great quickness and coordination. His range has improved, his glovework is exceptional, and his throwing accuracy—once a minor concern—is now up to snuff. So too is his footwork, which Jose had paid little attention to, given his great hands. He did not commit a single error in his final 35 games in 2003.

As a hitter, Jose has the quality of rising to the occasion. When there are runners on base, or the game is on the line, he becomes much more dangerous at the plate. He already has gap power, and some believe he may become a 20-homer guy some day. At the moment he is able to drive the ball better from the right side, while his open stance from the left side helps him slap the ball around the field and beat out slow rollers.

Jose is already a selective hitter, and has shown an ability to learn in the spotlight. For most of his time in the minors, he was a leadoff batter, which means he understands the basics of situational hitting. The Mets hope that he will develop major-league discipline with major-league experience.

Jose’s speed is raw but impressive. Once he learns the league, he should be among the leaders in stolen bases.