March 5, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky sophomore two-way standout A.J. Reed has been selected as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Hitter of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
A 6-foot-4, 245-pound left-handed pitcher and first baseman, Reed has also earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors after a blistering hot five-game stretch.
Reed, a native of Terre Haute, Ind., hit .526 (10-for-19) during a five-game week, ripping three homers and a double and driving in 15 runs. Reed collected a 1.053 slugging and a .609 on-base percentage during the week. In the home opener vs. Murray State, Reed belted his second homer of the year as a first-inning, three-run job. In the series opener vs. Akron on Friday, Reed started on the mound and worked six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two runs, striking out four. He also went 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBI and a three-run homer. Reed homered in the Saturday win over the Zips and had a bases-clearing double in the series finale on Sunday.
Reed joins Stanford star Mark Appel and North Carolina State lefty Carlos Rodon as the weekly NCBWA award winners.
At the plate in 2013, Reed has made 11 starts and leads the SEC with four homers, batting .409 with 11 runs. On the bump, Reed – who was a consensus first-team freshman All-America in 2012 – has made three starts on Friday nights, posting a 2-1 record and a 4.70 ERA. In his career, Reed has hit .320 with eight homers and 65 RBI and has a 7-4 record with a 3.00 ERA on the bump.
No. 7 Kentucky (10-1) will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Xavier at 4 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, with Dick Gabriel voicing the action. Fans in Lexington can hear the game live on WWTF 1580-AM and online at UKathletics.com.
GAME VS. CINCINNATI RESCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY
The Wildcats have rescheduled the non-conference game with Cincinnati for Wednesday, March 13 at 4 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 5 but was postponed due to heavy rain.
