Glen Reyes sprinted from high school to pro baseball
He did so as an Astros scout recalled his work way back as a freshman, the speed he'd show in track and his defense, The Times wrote.
"He's got some tools that people like," Reyes' high school baseball coach Art Warren told The Times after Reyes got drafted in 1989. "My personal opinion is that baseball is his best sport. I've said that all along."
Track, however, would be ultimately what Reyes would be remembered for, at least locally. Reyes' speed got him to two pro seasons, both spent in rookie ball.
Reyes' career began that year in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 13th round of the draft out of Orange Glen High School in California.
On the track, Reyes was setting records by age 15, The Escondido Daily Times-Advocate wrote in June 1985. In his first season, he took home state championships golds in the 100-meter dash and long jump and golds in the Junior Olympic preliminaries.
"My favorite are the dashes," Reyes told The Daily Times-Advocate. "I'm pretty good at the hurdles, but not many people my age do them competitively. The races aren't tight. I want the challenge."
After a sophomore injury, he returned to win an invite to the National High School Invitational Championships in the long jump and 60-meter dash in 1988.
Reyes started with the Astros in 1989 in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into 33 games and hit .175. He stole six bases.
He then returned there for 1990. He got into 20 games, hit .313 and stole five. He's last recorded playing a single game with the Expos GCL entry in 1991 to end his career.
Years later, in 2002, Reyes was quoted in a story on speed training in The Temecula Californian, related to a sports training business he started.
- Escondido Daily Times-Advocate, June 12, 1985: At 15, Reyes has flair for dramatic - and winning
- Los Angeles Times, June 7, 1989: Astros Make a Pitch to Track Star Reyes
- Temecula Californian, July 14, 2002: Speed
Made the Majors:1,431-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,074-68.2%-X
