REYES PROVES HE BELONGS EX-TROJAN FIGHTS ON IN ROOKIE SEASON.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writer

In just the 10th start of his major-league career, St. Louis Cardinals rookie Anthony Reyes found himself opposing four-time Cy Young Award-winner Greg Maddux on Saturday.

Being a perceived underdog with something to prove is nothing new to Reyes, whose determination to show his true potential fueled a rapid rise through the minor leagues and has the right-hander in the first-place Cardinals starting rotation three years after leaving USC with career record barely over .500.

``I felt I had some things to prove coming out of USC,'' said Reyes, who was the Cardinals' 15th-round draft pick in 2003 after in injury-plagued career with the Trojans. ``Just being injured, that's a setback. I knew where I belonged, and I knew how to pitch coming out of there. ... And going through the minor leagues, it's been a learning experience every step I go. But I've just continued to throw the way I usually throw, and I was able to get here pretty quickly.''

Reyes made his big-league debut in a spot start last August, making him the organization's first member of the 2003 draft class to reach the majors. He earned the win over Milwaukee, then returned to the minors until a September call-up as a reliever.

Reyes began this season back in Triple-A. In May, he was called up for a start against Kansas City, but was back in the minors a day after the win.

Reyes got another brief promotion later in the month, but he didn't become a regular in the rotation until late June.

``In the limited opportunities he had before in his last call-ups, he showed -- and he's showing -- he deserves the chances he's getting here,'' said Cardinals pitcher and fellow USC product Randy Flores. `He's been a great pick-up. He's extremely poised. He's a great competitor. He's doing great. He's been a great addition.''

Reyes is 2-5 with a 4.56 ERA. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa looks past the losing record and notes that Reyes has been a victim of poor run support. Reyes held the defending World Series champion Chicago White Sox to one run and one hit in eight innings of a June 22 contest, but lost.

``I feel he's been a quality starting pitcher,'' La Russa said.

Reyes' talent was evident years ago -- he was a two-time member of the U.S. national team, was a first-team all-Pacific-10 Conference selection as a junior and ranks among USC's all-time strikeout leaders -- but he had a difficult time staying healthy and went just 2-4 as a senior.

Being injured might have provided more than just the fire to prove himself.

``I learned how to pitch as opposed to just throwing,'' Reyes said.

Baseball America named him the Cardinals' top pitching prospect the past two years and Reyes is enjoying the opportunity to further his game with the aid of St.Louis' knowledgeable veterans.

``It's been a fun ride so far,'' Reyes said. ``I'm just up here to learn as much as I can this year and learn what it takes to start for this caliber of a team. I feel I belong here, but there's still a lot I can learn, especially from the type of players we have here.''

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photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Former USC standout Anthony Reyes is 2-5 in his rookie season with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Box:

(1) LOCALS IN THE MAJORS

(2) LOCALS IN THE MINORS