Reed’s versatility valuable to Cats
March 30, 2013
By Alex Forkner | @AlexFork3
Meet A.J. Reed: Mr. Everything.
An ace pitcher in a power hitter’s body, or a power hitter in an ace pitcher’s body? The answer isn’t clear. What is clear is Reed’s importance to UK baseball.
Against Georgia on Friday, Reed surrendered one run through 8.1 innings, allowing six hits and striking out four with no walks.
“Not a whole lot to poke at in that outing,” UK head coach Gary Henderson said. “Once again, A.J. is at his absolute best when he needs to be.”
Reed also went 1-for-4 at the plate with a single, not a conspicuous offensive outing, but it was his appearance as designated hitter in the bottom of the 10th that says everything about his versatility, and about his coach’s belief in him.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the regional game from last year,” Reed said, referring to the 21-inning marathon game UK played against Kent State in the Gary, Indiana Regional of the NCAA Tournament last season. Reed entered the game in the 13th inning and pitched the rest of the way. “I went nine innings in relief. I think that proved to him I could still get the job done in later innings.”
Reed and the Cats’ season would end two days later with another single-run loss to Kent State, 3-2, ending a banner year for the then-freshman.
Reed became the first UK player to receive consensus first-team freshman All-American honors. Reed also received All-SEC freshman honors.
This season began with more accolades for Reed, as he was named a third-team preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America, as well as the third best SEC prospect available for the MLB draft by Baseball America.
For Henderson, there was never a question about leaving Reed on the mound or sending him to the plate late in the game against the Bulldogs.
“There wasn’t too much debating going on in the dugout (about leaving Reed in the game),” Henderson said. “I just have a lot of faith in him.”
Henderson’s faith is well-placed.
After Friday’s game, Reed is third on the team in ERA, giving up only 2.57 runs per game in his seven appearances on the season. Reed is also second the team in batting average (.337) and the leader in RBIs (28) and homeruns (6).
Such dual-threat players are few and far between, so how does Reed manage to execute at such a high level in such different capacities?
“It’s not easy, but I try to do it the best I can,” Reed said. “I kind of try to separate. When I’m pitching out there on the mound, that’s all I’m thinking about, when I’m hitting that’s all I’m thinking about.”
Reed’s double duty is likely to last for the rest of the season. If he keeps this up, he may just be pitching and hitting his way to another appearance in the NCAA Tournament and even more awards.
