Kentucky Wildcats Baseball: A.J. Reed continues impressive 2014 season

Kentucky Wildcats junior left-handed pitcher/first baseman A.J. Reed continued his impressive 2014 baseball season this past weekend in an SEC series against the Florida Gators
A.J. Reed celebrates following a game-tying home run on April 6, 2014 against Florida. Image Credit: Daniel Solzman.
Reed’s impressive pitching and hitting against the Gators saw him win a number of awards this week. He was named by the NCBWA as the National Hitter of the Week, the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week, and the SEC Player of the Week. All three honors were the second such time this season that Reed received them.

Last week, Perfect Game USA had named Reed as the National Player of the Year at the midseason.

Against Florida this past weekend, Reed was on fire. In addition to seven shutout innings during Friday’s Reed had a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a home run and a pair of doubles. Reed had two hits during Saturday’s contest including a home run. On Sunday, Reed notched another three-hit game and the game-tying home run over the Gators.

Entering Tuesday’s game against Morehead State, the junior two-way star was hitting .377/.507/.781 in 32 games this season with 12 home runs and 39 RBI. On the mound, Reed has a 6-1 record with a 1.93 ERA.

What Reed did this weekend was impressive enough to draw Jim Callis‘ interest.

There’s no doubt that Reed will be drafted this June. The question that remains is whether it will be as a pitcher or a power-hitting first baseman.

Callis tells Wildcat Blue Nation that Reed was a tremendous player coming out of Indiana and “has to be the leading candidate for College Player of the Year right now.”

As far as comparisons go, one such comparison is St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams.

“Adams isn’t a bad comp based on the size, power and hitting prowess,” said Callis. “Not sure he’s THAT good of a hitter, but he’s plenty good.”

Alex Meyer was the last Wildcat to have been drafted in the first round. Is it possible that he could be picked in the first round? I don’t know.

“I think he’s been the most valuable player in college baseball in the first half of the season, and it’s not real close,” said Aaron Fitt, National College Baseball Writer for Baseball America. “The impact he makes as a two-way guy is incredible. He’s the best power hitter in college baseball, and he’s a legit Friday night starter in the SEC—what more can you ask? As for his draft stock, I think scouts are still divided on whether he fits best as a pitcher or hitter at the next level. Sounds like he’s still viewed as more of a second-round talent than a first-rounder, because he knows how to pitch but it’s not premium stuff, and some guys aren’t in love with his swing. But he produces, and that really matters. A numbers-oriented club could take a shot on him in the back of the first round.”

Fitt tells WBN that Reed best compares with Brian Johnson.

“The guy he gets compared to most often is Brian Johnson, who was a first-round pick out of Florida a couple of years ago,” said Fitt. “Like Reed, Johnson was a two-way star (a lefthanded-hitting first baseman with power, and a lefthanded pitcher). Johnson had a bit better raw stuff on the mound, and he was drafted as a pitcher. Reed is a more accomplished hitter, and I think he has a decent chance to be drafted as a bat.”

It’s a long way to June but the Wildcats still have a long ways to go this season.