A. J. Reed

A. J. Reed

Houston Astros – No. 23
First baseman
Born: (1993-05-10) May 10, 1993
Terre Haute, Indiana
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 25, 2016, for the Houston Astros
Career statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .164
Home runs 3
Runs batted in 8
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Andrew Joseph Reed (born May 10, 1993) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at Kentucky. He was drafted by the Astros in the second round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft.

Early years

Reed attended Terre Haute South Vigo High School in Terre Haute, Indiana.[1] During his career he hit .425 with 41 home runs and 150 runs batted in (RBI) as a batter and was 26–10 record with a 1.88 earned run average (ERA), and 390 strikeouts in 260 innings as a pitcher. Reed was drafted by the New York Mets in the 25th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and attended the University of Kentucky.[2]

College career

While at Kentucky he was considered one of the best two-way players in college baseball.[3][4][5] As a freshman in 2012 at the Kentucky he became the first consensus first-team freshman All-American in Kentucky's baseball history. He played in 55 games with 51 starts, hitting .300 with four home runs and 43 runs batted in as a batter. As a pitcher he went 5–3 with a 2.52 ERA and 51 strikeouts over 16 games (five starts). As a sophomore in 2013 he started all 55 games and started 14 games as a pitcher. As a batter he hit .280 with 13 home runs and 52 runs batted in. As a pitcher he was 2–8 with a 4.04 ERA and 52 strikeouts.

As a junior in 2014, Reed hit .336/.476/.735 and led the nation in home runs with 23. As a pitcher he was 12–2 with a 2.09 ERA and 71 strikeouts. He was the winner of the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.[6][7] He also won numerous other awards, including the John Olerud Award, SEC Player of the Year, National Player of the Year from Collegiate Baseball and American Baseball Coaches Association, as well as Baseball America College Player Of The Year.[8][9][10][11][12] He was also the SEC Male Athlete of the Year for all sports.[13]

Professional career

Reed was drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft.[14] He signed on June 11.[15] Reed hit 34 home runs for the Lancaster JetHawks of the Class A-Advanced California League and Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League in the 2015 season, winning the Joe Bauman Home Run Award.[16]

Reed began the 2016 season with the Fresno Grizzlies of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He was called up and made his major league debut on June 25, 2016.[17] On July 1, 2016 he recorded his first Major League hit with a single against Chicago White Sox.[18] Next day he hit his first Major League home run off of Chicago White Sox pitcher David Robertson.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Immense power: A leaner A.J. Reed making play as elite prospect". Terre Haute Tribune Star. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ "New York Mets draft South's A.J. Reed". Terre Haute Tribune Star. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Kentucky's A.J. Reed among nation's elite as hitter and pitcher". NCAA.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  4. ↑ "- Sports - The New Orleans Advocate — New Orleans, Louisiana". theneworleansadvocate.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Kentucky's Reed is nation's top slugger — and mound ace". The Courier-Journal. April 24, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ "A.J. Reed of Kentucky Wildcats winner of Golden Spikes Award". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  7. ↑ Astros draftee Reed wins Howser Trophy
  8. ↑ "AJ Reed Wins John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award". ukathletics.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  9. ↑ "SEC Announces 2014 Baseball Awards" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  10. ↑ "A.J. Reed Named National Player of the Year". May 29, 2014 (Press release). University of Kentucky Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  11. ↑ "College Player Of The Year: Kentucky's Reed Starred At Plate, On Mound". June 11, 2014 (Press release). Baseball America. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ "AJ Reed Named ABCA National Player of the Year". University of Kentucky. June 18, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ Kyle Tucker, @KyleTucker_CJ (July 1, 2014). "Kentucky's A.J. Reed named SEC Male Athlete of the Year". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Astros go for power with Kentucky's Reed in Round 2". Houston Astros. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Astros ink power-hitting 42nd overall pick Reed". Houston Astros. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Reed wins 2015 Bauman Home Run Award: Second-year Astros pro hit 34 homers to lead Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  17. ↑ http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/06/24/houston-astros-promote-top-prospect-aj-reed
  18. ↑ "Gomez hits 2-run homer to help Astros over White Sox 5-0". espn.com. July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  19. ↑ "White Sox's comeback victory over Astros gives Chris Sale MLB-best 14th win". espn.com. July 3, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.

External links

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