A former New York Mets legend, widely regarded as one of the most electrifying base runners in franchise history, marked his presence at Citi Field on Tuesday night. As the Mets hosted the Atlanta Braves for a three-game series, the three-time National League stolen base leader was asked a simple question. And he had the most intriguing and hilarious reply.
Before we get to that question, it’s worth noting that the former Met has played shortstop for 3 other MLB teams – the Rockies, Marlins, and Blue Jays. But his prime was with the Mets. In fact, he has led the National League in stealing bases not once, but for three back-to-back years. From 2005 to 2007, he racked up 60, 64, and a career-high 78 swipes.
Now, during the second game of the three-game Braves-Mets series, José Reyes was cheering for his team as they went up against their division rivals. And given his track record, there’s no one better than him to weigh in on stealing bases.
José Reyes tells @SteveGelbs that he would’ve stolen 150 bases with the current MLB rules pic.twitter.com/IEW8ybhM4I
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 25, 2025
Enjoying the game from the stands, Reyes was speaking with SNY when he was asked the number of bases he could steal with the latest MLB rules. Well, Reyes was certain of stealing ‘150 bases.’ He didn’t have to give that answer much thought!
It’s been easier to steal bases lately. It wasn’t like that before 2023, though. After these new rules, the base sizes have been increased to 18 square inches. And back then, it was 15. Now, the base runners have been making the most of the increased base sizes. After all, it gives them a bigger target. As a result, the base runners have gotten the license to test their agility.
Moreover, the idea of MLB introducing these rules was to revive base running. The players are apparently leaning towards power hitting at the plate over the previous decade. However, for Reyes in particular, it didn’t seem like he would have required this change.
But still, just a thought—wouldn’t it be amazing to see Jose Reyes playing with the new rules? Well, the idea alone sounds stellar. After all, his aggressive base running paired with his blistering speed would make a perfect combo with Today’s rules.
How Jose Reyes made an impact for the Mets
The New York Mets were going through a slump back in 2003. Their on-field performance was a perfect reflection of that. The roster had all the veterans and no young players. And then, against the Texas Rangers, on June 10, 2003, Jose Reyes made his MLB debut; he batted ninth.
With a drive to make an impact, Reyes, during the third inning, led off with a single and scored his first big run off a double. His upcoming at-bat was a groundout, but in the seventh inning, he delivered a leadoff double. It was his second hit of the game. He concluded with a 2-for-4 with a double, scoring two runs.
Interestingly, just the next day was his 20th birthday. So, for a 19-year-old playing for the first time in the big league, he surely introduced himself with a banger in the majors. Although in that game, the Texas Rangers handed the Mets a 9-7 defeat, that night was all about Reyes, not the loss.
In the following games, Reyes cooled off a bit. However, his grand slam in Anaheim displayed flashes of brilliance.
It’s his speed that made him a key player in the Mets’ lineup. Reyes’s initial 10 games were on the road. And when he returned to Shea Stadium in front of the home crowd, the Mets were relieved to have found a gem. Remember the legend on the field?
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