Depending on when you first heard of Alex Reyes, it might come as a surprise that the 22-year-old pitcher is in a playoff race with the St. Louis Cardinals.
A Google search reveals little—if anything—was written about him as an above-average but not particularly promising high school pitcher. If he threw in the mid-80s, that was a great day, but it wasn't nearly good enough to gain the attention of the best college baseball programs, let alone professional scouts. Many of the country's top prep players throw in the 90s as freshmen.
So those in Reyes' hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey, might appreciate his unusual ascension over the past four years.