May 24, 2012

HOOVER, Ala. — Kentucky freshman A.J. Reed has been named one of the top-10 finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, given annually to the top two-way player in the nation, it was announced by the College Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday night.

Reed, a native of Terre Haute, Ind., is the only freshman among the top-10 two-way stars in college baseball and is one of three Southeastern Conference players on the list, joining Florida’s Brian Johnson and Austin Maddox.

A 6-foot-4, 230-pound left-handed pitcher and first baseman, Reed is coming off a dynamic performance in the opener of the SEC Tournament on Tuesday, where he tossed 5.2 shutout innings in his first career start vs. an SEC foe and went a career-high 4-for-4 at the plate with a homer in a 2-0 win.

On the year, Reed has hit .311 with nine doubles, four homers and 40 RBI. On the mound, Reed has tossed 15 games with five starts, posting a 5-2 record and a 2.62 ERA, tossing 44.2 innings, walking seven and striking out 43.

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.

Kentucky (42-15, 18-12 SEC) will return to action on Thursday in the SEC Tournament, facing red-hot No. 21 Mississippi State, 30 minutes following the first game of the day at 10:30 a.m. ET. The game will be televised by Fox Sports South, with Dave Neal and Larry Conley on the call. Fans can hear the game live on the UK IMG Radio Network, available in Central Kentucky on WLAP 630-AM, in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM and online at UKathletics.com.