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- Jose was the Mets’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
- Jose went 5-for-5 in his last Florida State League game in 2002, then went 5-for-6 in his first Eastern Eeague contest.
- Jose’s manager in the 2002 Futures Game was all-time great shortstop Dave Concepcion. The defensive star of the game was third baseman Miguel Cabrera, like Jose only 19 years old.
- Jose was named 2002 Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today.
- Jose sent home enough money as a minor-leaguer to pay for construction of a new house for his family. This one had indoor plumbing.
- Jose called his parents every three days throughout his minor league days.
- Jose was the first teenager to start for the Mets since Dwight Gooden.
- Jose hit in 17 straight games in 2003—the longest streak by a rookie that year.
- Jose set a Mets rookie record with 39 hits in August of 2003.
- Jose is only the second Met whose first major league homer was a grand slam. The first was a pitcher, Jack Hamilton.
- Jose’s favorite player is Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees.
- Jose is determined to master English. He has been memorizing phrases for three years, and can now make his way through most interviews.
- Jose has ben questioned more than once about his age. He resents any suggestion that he has lied about how old he is.
- Although women have been throwing himself at Jose, he remains faithful to the girl next door (literally!) Massiel Pichardo, who grew up on the same road in Palmar Arriba.
- Jose’s favorite musicians are Nelly and Snoop Dogg.
- Jose is represented by Peter and Edward Greenberg, who count among their clients Latino stars Bobby Abreu, Richard Hidalgo, Edgardo Alfonzo and Freddy Garcia.
Dwight Gooden, 1990
Upper Deck
Alex Rodriguez,
2004 New York Post