May 6, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky freshman southpaw and first baseman A.J. Reed has been named one of 20 of the top two-way players in the nation on the annual College Baseball Hall of Fame John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List, it was announced.
A native of Terre Haute, Ind., Reed is one of 20 players named to the initial watch list for the Olerud Award. A 6-foot-4, 230-pounder, Reed has shined for the Wildcats as a vital left-handed pitcher and as a run-producing presence in the UK lineup.
Reed has hit .297 (49-for-165) in 45 games and 44 starts for UK during the historic Wildcats 2012 season. Reed has slugged nine doubles, three homers and 39 RBI at the plate for UK and pitched in 12 games with four starts, posting a 4-1 record and a 3.52 ERA. Reed has tossed 30.2 innings, allowing 35 hits and 12 earned runs, walking six and striking out 32. Reed has made four midweek starts for UK, owning two quality starts. His RBI total entered the weekend among the SEC’s top eight RBI producers.
A 25th round draft pick out of Terre Haute South High School by the New York Mets, Reed came to UK as the 2011 Indiana High School Player of the Year, batting .425 in his career with a 26-10 record and a 1.88 ERA.
Reed is one of five SEC stars to be tabbed to the watch list, joining Auburn’s Justin Bryant, Florida’s Brian Johnson and Austin Maddox and Tennessee’s Drew Steckenrider.
Reed is one of several UK standouts on midseason watch lists, including Trevor Gott and Luke Maile on the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List. Corey Littrell is on the College Baseball Hall of Fame National Pitcher of the Year Watch List, Gott is on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watch List and freshman centerfielder Austin Cousino has been named to the 2012 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
The award, named for the Washington State star who achieved success as both a first baseman and a right-handed pitcher, will be presented as part of the annual College Baseball Night of Champions on June 30 in Lubbock, Texas. The event features the presentation of numerous awards and the induction ceremony for this year’s Hall of Fame class.
“The numbers these players are putting up this season are all the more impressive when you consider they’re doing double-duty as both position players and pitchers,” said co-chair Randy Norman. “Each of these guys has numbers that live up to the legacy of John Olerud.”
Kentucky (37-11, 15-9 SEC) returns to action on Wednesday with a midweek game at Indiana, before hosting Alabama in the final home SEC weekend of the year at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
