Reyes ready to step into rotation

His first season with the Indians was shut down in early September with a sore elbow.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Anthony Reyes is again making a good impression with the Cleveland Indians. This time, he doesn’t intend to be stopped.

Reyes has yet to allow a run this spring and said Tuesday that he feels no lingering effects of the sore elbow that ended his 2008 season early.

“Haven’t felt a thing, not even a little soreness anywhere in my body,” Reyes said. “It’s the best I have felt in years.”

That may sound even sweeter to the Indians than Reyes’ early numbers: three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over five innings. That includes three perfect innings Monday against the Chicago White Sox.

“If Anthony Reyes is healthy, he’ll most likely make our team as a starter,” general manager Mark Shapiro said. “Not that I expect him to break down. I just don’t know.”

Manager Eric Wedge likes what he has seen, but says the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation remain open.

“He’s done a good job,” Wedge said. “Nothing fazes him. He’s very serious and I like that.”

Reyes is well aware that it is up to him to grasp the opportunity. “I’ve played long enough to know nothing is guaranteed,” the 27-year-old said. “You earn your stripes and win a spot.

“That’s fine with me because I like to do things 100 percent.”

Reyes worked even harder than usual this offseason. He spent time with a personal trainer and got additional exercise by donning a wet suit and going surfing a couple days a week near his home in Buena Park, Calif.

“I don’t like sitting around,” Reyes said. “I did a lot of leg work, laid off some of the upper body stuff, and it has paid off.

“I grew up surfing and the more you do it, the better you get, but it’s kind of tough after an eight-month layoff.”

Reyes did not throw a baseball for about 41‚Ñ2 months after being shut down by the Indians on Sept. 6. That came after he went 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA in six starts for Cleveland following a July 26 trade from the St. Louis Cardinals for minor-league right-hander Luis Perdomo.

“I was pumped, really wanted to show the Indians that they made a good trade,” Reyes said. “So I was doubly disappointed at not finishing the season.”

Reyes refuses to use it as an excuse, but does wonder if being used in relief for the first time in his career by the Cardinals early last year contributed to his late-season aches.

“I tried to do what they wanted, but it was a new role and I was kind of learning as I went,” Reyes said.

In 10 relief outings, Reyes went 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA for St. Louis. He was sent back to Triple-A Memphis and put back into a starting role, then placed on the disabled list in June with a strained elbow.

“Maybe it had something to do with it, I don’t know,” Reyes said.