Sep 29, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Alex Reyes (61) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Adams shows REAL clubhouse problems by Dr. Michael D. Miles

St. Louis Cardinals: Busch Stadium Christian Day Controversy by BobLee Says

As reported by St. Louis Post-Dispatchs Derrick Goold, St. Louis Cardinals top pitching prospect Alex Reyes is making good progress in his rehabilitation from a partial UCL tear in his right elbow, and could begin a throwing program in four weeks.

While some players, including fellow Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, can pitch with a partial tear for an extended period. However, it proved either too difficult or too irrational for a young hard thrower like Reyes to suffer through that.

Reyes spent some of his summer rehab at Busch Stadium studying the other St. Louis Cardinals pitchers during their throwing sessions on the advice of Cardinals starter Lance Lynn. Lynn was forced to miss all of the 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery of his own.

This has given Reyes some valuable observational experience into the complexities of the preparation that a pitcher needs to go through on a daily basis to remain sharp over six months of consistent work. Reyes told Goold that the experience was especially impactful in helping guide the cerebral side to his transition into MLB.

Via St. Louis Post-Dispatch

It really gets to a point for me that I want to learn where I can get mentally, where I need to be, Reyes said recently. Im trying to take in as much from these guys as I can, even if it is just watching them. I need to know what a full season is like and how to make sure I have the stamina when its my chance.

For a young pitcher like Reyes, whose control has been an issue at times, refining his mentality this early is especially important, so that the coaching staff can dedicate more time and effort to mechanical issues that may arise following his full recovery and expected integration into the Cardinals rotation over the next couple of years.

When Reyes is healthy, he has a non-existent ceiling based on the potential of his already-strong arsenal of pitches. He mainly operates using the pair of a sizzling fastball that can hit over 100 MPH on the gun coupled with a deceptively-sinking change-up that pulls the string on many batters who dont expecting the movement.

He also throws a slider, which he uses as a strikeout pitch against both left- and right-handed batters, and tops it off with a nasty hook of a curveball that has knee-buckling movement. These pitches together form an abundant and flexible arsenal. We have seen flashes of Reyes potential already, perhaps no more so than at the 2016 Futures Game, where Reyes picked up four swinging Ks in a dazzling 1 2/3 innings.

Want your voice heard? Join the Redbird Rants team!

All in all, this news marks a positive step in the rehab process, and will hopefully continue smoothly as the Cardinals continue to both repair and prepare Reyes for life as an MLB starter.

Read the original here:

St. Louis Cardinals: Alex Reyes making progress towards throwing program - Redbird Rants