Class-A Advanced
Prospect Interview: Red Sox RHP Denyi Reyes Dominated On The Mound In 2017
Right hander finished 2017, 9-0, with a 1.45 ERA in 15 games out of the pen.
The Boston Red Sox signed RHP Denyi Reyes as an international free agent in 2014 and the San Cristobal, Dominican Republic native made his professional debut during the Red Sox Dominican Summer League in 2015.
I asked Reyes how he felt after signing with the Red Sox, “I felt super good, signing with a professional team was one of my goals. I remember that I decided not to be just another ball player, from the beginning I wanted to be the best,” says Reyes.
Reyes proved that right out the gate as his hard work allowed him to be named an All Star during the Dominican Summer League. In 14 starts, he won seven games, with a 2.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts in 75 innings.
Reyes came to the United Sates in 2016 and played the entire season with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox and in nine appearances (three starts), he continued to develop his skills posting a 4-1 record, with a 2.34 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.
On August 9, 2016 against the Gulf Coast League Rays, Reyes allowed the last runs that he would allow on the season. In his remaining four games, he had 16 shutout innings, with 15 strikeouts, nine hits and a walk, while also lowering his ERA to 2.34.
For the 2017 season, the Red Sox rewarded Reyes with his hard work by sending him to Low-A Lowell to pitch for the Spinners.
“It was an unforgettable experience, because I had never played in front of so many fans, but it was real good to share that with my teammates. The Lowell fans supported the team really well and I learned a lot from this season,” shared Reyes.
Even if he had any nerves playing in front of the fans, it didn’t show with the success he experienced in 2017, as he finished 9-0, with a 1.45 ERA, and 53 strikeouts in 62 innings of relief.
Reyes, who has proven in his brief minor league career that he can start games, ironically did not start one game for the Spinners as all of his 15 appearances were out of the pen.
The San Cristobal, Dominican Republic native shared with me that even though starting is his first love, he knows that in baseball the team comes first, “I always liked to start the game but after this past season I realized that we are a team and I am very comfortable with where they decided to use me.”
Through the first eight games in 2017, the 6’4″ right hander did not go more than 3.2 innings out of the pen, posting a 2-0 record, while striking out 20 batters through 23.1 innings, but on July 27th, he put up a dominating performance, pitching five shutout innings out of the pen, allowing just two runs, no walks and one strike out, while winning his third game of the season.
From that game and moving forward for the next six starts, Reyes was the first guy out of the pen after RHP Tanner Houck’s starts and even though Reyes did not start the games, he was pared up with Houck pitching just about once a week. So even though the Spinners did not start Reyes, he pitched enough innings to earn the victory in each game.
From July 27th to August 30th, Reyes won seven straight games, allowing just two runs, one walk and struck out 37 batters through 38.2 innings.
After a dominating performance in 2017, Reyes now turns his attention to the 2018 season as the hard work will continue, “I must work on my physique as this past season was long, something I was not used to, but I will continue working also on my consistency as I have done so far in my career.”
So far in his brief minor league career, he has shown the Red Sox that signing him was a great move and as Reyes continues with his development, it will be just a matter of time before he is on Bostons radar as an arm that can help the big club. Great things are in store for this young man, as he understands what it will take to fulfill his dreams of playing major league baseball.
Congrats Denyi on a dominating 2017 season and we here at Legends on Deck want to thank you for sharing your journey with the fans.
David Conde
David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.
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