Feb. 26, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky junior left-hander/first baseman A.J. Reed has been named National Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and NCAA.com National Player of the Week, it was announced.
A member of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List, Reed was named national hitter of the week by the NCBWA, with VMI right-hander Reed Garrett earning NCBWA Pitcher of the Week after tossing a no-hitter last week. NCAA.com announced Reed, Garrett, UC Davis junior Nick Lynch, Tennessee Tech’s Daniel Miles and UNC Wilmington righty Nick Monroe, LSU ace Aaron Nola and Maryland righty Jake Stinnett as its national players of the week.
A native of Terre Haute, Ind., Reed was also named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week and one of four national players of the week by Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball. In his career, Reed has now been named SEC Player of the Week, NCBWA Hitter of the Week and Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week twice, also winning SEC Freshman of the Week in 2012.
A first-team preseason All-America selection, Reed has a historic three-game weekend at the Old Dominion Tournament, becoming the first player in school history with five homers in a three-game stretch. On Friday, while also working seven, one-run innings on the mound for the win, belted two homers in an inning – including a grand slam – becoming the first UK player with two homers in a single inning since Jason Kipnis in 2007. In a Saturday win at ODU, Reed erased a one-run hole with a two-out, two-run single in the third inning, before erasing a second deficit with a solo homer in the seventh inning to tie the game, later spanking a double off the wall. Sunday, Reed had his second two-homer game of the weekend in a win over St. John’s.
On the year, Reed has hit .424 (14-for-33) with 10 runs, three doubles, six homers and 17 RBI. On the mound, Reed has a 2-0 record – including a season-opening win over No. 1 Virginia – and a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings. In his career, Reed has hit .300 (134-for-447) with 20 doubles, two triples, 23 homers and 112 RBI, while owning a 9-11 record and a 3.28 ERA in 148 innings on the mound.
Kentucky (6-2) will return to action on Friday with its first home series of the year, welcoming Eastern Michigan to Cliff Hagan Stadium for a 4 p.m. ET first pitch.
