Jan. 21, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky junior left-handed pitcher/first baseman A.J. Reed has been named second-team preseason All-America by Perfect Game, it was announced.
A native of Terre Haute, Ind., Reed was named second-team Perfect Game preseason All-America as the utility player. It marks his second preseason All-America accolade of the 2014 season, after he earned third-team honors by Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball.
A 6-foot-4, 240-pounder, Reed is the first UK player to earn preseason All-America honors in consecutive seasons, dating back to 1999. Last season, Reed – who in 2012 became the first consensus first-team freshman All-America honoree in program history – was named a preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
A first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2013 as the designated hitter, Reed is coming off a sophomore season as UK’s No. 1 starter and No. 3 or No. 4 hitter in the lineup. At the plate, Reed led UK and finished fourth in the SEC with 13 homers and 52 RBI, adding a .280 average. On the mound, Reed made 14 series-opening starts, finishing with a 2-8 record and a 4.04 ERA, although he entered his final two starts with a 2.84 ERA.
In his career, Reed has appeared in 30 games with 19 starts on the mound, with a 7-11 record and a 3.44 ERA, working 136 innings, walking just 24 and striking out 103. At the plate, Reed has a .290 average with 17 doubles, two triples, 17 homers and 95 RBI.
A 25th-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the New York Mets, Reed spent the summer splitting time between the Cape Cod League and the USA National Team trial roster. After his record-setting freshman season in 2012, Reed dominated his summer in the Cape Cod League, ranking third in the circuit in ERA.
Kentucky opens its 2014 season vs. No. 14 Virginia on Feb. 14 in Wilmington, N.C. The Wildcats will open their home slate on Feb. 25 vs. Wright State.
UK PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS (since 1999)
1999 – John Wilson, C
– Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball
2007 – Collin Cowgill, OF
– Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA
2007 – Sean Coughlin, C
– Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA
2007 – Greg Dombrowski, RHSP
– NCBWA
2010 – Chris Bisson, 2B
– Baseball America
2013 – Austin Cousino, OF
– Baseball America, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA
2013 – Corey Littrell, LHSP
– Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA
2013 – A.J. Reed, UT
– NCBWA
2014 – A.J. Reed, UT
– Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game
A.J. Reed NAMED SECOND-TEAM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
