Reyes joins Arenado on NL All-Star squad

DENVER -- Alex Reyes was nearing the dugout steps at Coors Field on Sunday morning before Cardinals manager Mike Shildt flagged down his closer. Shildt brought him into his office to ask him a few questions. Five years earlier, he was doing the same in Memphis.

“Do you like the city?” Shildt asked Reyes. “Do you like the stadium?”

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Shildt just wanted to make sure. Because on July 13, Reyes will join teammate Nolan Arenado to take part of the first All-Star Game in his winding, injury-riddled career, back in Denver, as a closer.

“I've never doubted myself,” Reyes said. “I've always said that I've always believed in myself. After each injury, I've always come back. I've worked hard, and I've been able to bounce back. … Just being able to get this opportunity is awesome.”

In Memphis, in 2016, it was Shildt who presided over the Cardinals’ Triple-A squad when Reyes received his first callup to the Major Leagues.

“Knowing what he's gone through and then knowing how well he's performed, he more than earned his All-Star appearance,” Shildt said. “It’s a pretty special thing to be associated with.”

It will be a week of ceremony for the Cardinals in Colorado, with head trainer/director of medical operations Adam Olsen on the NL’s training staff.

But missing out on All-Star honors were catcher Yadier Molina -- second place at the end of Phase 2 voting -- and outfielder Tyler O’Neill -- ninth place at the end of Phase 1 -- as well as right-handers Adam Wainwright and Giovanny Gallegos, the latter the subject of staunch stumping from his skipper for his first career nod.

Injury replacements leave the door open for each of the quartet.

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A highly decorated and touted pitching prospect, once the second-highest ranked in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, Reyes has run into a string of injuries: Tommy John surgery in 2017, surgery to repair a torn lat muscle in ’18 and a broken finger that derailed the majority of his ’19.

“You don't know if you're going to pitch again; you don't know what that looks like,” Shildt said. “People are doubting that. You have high expectations. You're an uber prospect, which is hard enough to live up to, anyway, and you have setbacks.

“And then you have the heart to compete for a team and want to contribute to a team that's successful. Alex has all those things, and he was able to take all those setbacks, and it probably makes it even sweeter.”

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Now Reyes is a closer, one of the best in the game through the first half of 2021. Pitching with a passion brought out by the high-adrenaline moments, it’s a role he has appeared destined to pitch in, even though the door remains open for the rotation, as early as 2022.

Reyes has converted 22 consecutive saves to start his career, tied with Tippy Martinez for the second most in American League/National League history, and one behind LaTroy Hawkins.

From beginning his career as a starter to one of the most dominant closers in the game. And an All-Star doing so.

“This is something that I feel like my talent could be,” Reyes said. “So it's just about putting the work in, going out there and having the chance to do it.”