Who could have predicted this Red Sox breakout?

This story was excerpted from Ian Browne's Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

When the Red Sox acquired Pablo Reyes from the A’s for cash considerations on May 12, it hardly registered with even the most ardent followers of the transaction wire.

Christian Arroyo had strained his right hamstring, so the Red Sox made a depth move to replace him on the roster, bringing in a 29-year-old journeyman who had been languishing at Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.

If Reyes couldn’t crack Oakland’s roster at that point with the A's holding the Majors' worst record, what could he possibly do for Boston?

As it turns out, quite a bit. Reyes has been a significant sparkplug for the Red Sox, and the latest display was on Wednesday night, when he smacked a game-tying two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The fact that Boston lost the game, 6-2, did nothing to diminish the latest contribution from Reyes.

That big blast came just nine days after the right-handed hitter mashed a walk-off grand slam to beat the Royals.

Who could have expected Reyes to provide such heroics? After all, at the time the A’s dealt him to the Red Sox, he was hitting .257 in Triple-A.

“The front office did a good job recognizing him as a good defender [and] a guy that can put together good at-bats against lefties,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “But I think overall, what he's done, whoever says that they saw it coming, they're lying to you.”

What has Reyes done? In his first 41 games with the Red Sox, he has a slash line of .321/.360/.443.

When Reyes was asked if he could have predicted he would hit like this, a smile came across his face.

“I’m not going to say I don’t believe in myself. I believe in myself,” said Reyes. “I knew I had good numbers in the Minor Leagues, and also when the other team gave me the opportunity to be in the big leagues, those were good numbers.

“But this is actually the first time I’ve had the opportunity to play every day and I'm glad that things are going the way they are and I’m glad that I’m helping the team to win as well.”

In August, Reyes is 13-for-35 (.371).

Reyes had to be wondering in April and early May why the A’s wouldn’t at least give him a shot.

“Yes, to be honest, but those decisions were out of my hand,” Reyes said. “I thought I was going to make the team out of Spring Training, but it didn’t happen. So I went down there to play as hard as I know to see if the opportunity would come up and it never did, and I'm glad that the Boston Red Sox took a chance on me and I was able to also be good for the team.”

Minor Leaguers who are in their late 20s and are tempted to give up should take note of what Reyes is doing.

“You never know what's going to happen and that's why I kept fighting and kept playing hard down there [in the Minors],” Reyes said. “And I'm glad that the Red Sox gave me the opportunity to play here.”

What is allowing Reyes to be successful?

“He’s short to the ball and he can catch up with velo,” said Cora. “He sees the game and he puts together good at-bats. He gives himself a chance and that's the most important thing. Nowadays, with the velo and where they’re going with the fastball, you’ve got to be short and straight to it. We always talk about hitting the ball in the air and all that. Well, he's hitting the ball in the air, but on a line. Great at-bats. He’s been great for us.”

After Reyes was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 23 with an abdominal strain, the Red Sox sent him on a Minor League rehab assignment and gave him the full 20 days to see if the logjam on the roster would be alleviated.

Ultimately, Boston decided to trade the slumping but more established Kiké Hernández back to the Dodgers so they could hang on to Reyes. When Trevor Story came off the injured list, the Sox designated Arroyo for assignment rather than losing Reyes.

With each passing day, Reyes has made the organization look increasingly smarter for hanging on to him.

“My mentality here is to help the team win in any form that I can,” Reyes said. “If it’s defensively, if it’s offensively, that’s my goal. My goal is to be here to help, and whatever the team needs me to do, I’ll be here to do it and that’s been my mentality since I got here.”