April 8, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Already named Southeastern Conference and Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week, Kentucky junior left-handed pitcher/first baseman A.J. Reed has been National Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Reed, a native of Terre Haute, Ind., was named the national hitter of the week and Virginia lefty Nathan Kirby, who struck out 18 in a no-hitter, was named the national pitcher of the week in the weekly NCBWA awards. On Monday, Reed was named SEC Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week, marking the second time in 2014 he had earned both honors.
During a weekend series win over No. 12 Florida, Reed hit homers in all three games, adding three doubles and going 8-for-12 at the plate. In addition, Reed worked seven shutout innings on the mound Friday night in a win over the Gators, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer and two doubles. After collecting two hits, including a homer, on Saturday, Reed had his second three-hit game of the weekend in a rubber-match win on Sunday, including hitting a game-tying homer.
On Feb. 25, Reed was named NCBWA National Hitter of the Week after belting five homers in a three-game stretch at the Old Dominion Tournament. A 6-foot-4, 240-pounder, Reed has earned 11 weekly conference or national awards in his career, claiming the NCBWA National Hitter of the Week three times.
No. 12 Kentucky (22-10, 6-6 SEC) returns to action on Tuesday, hosting Morehead State at 6:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
2014 NCBWA WEEKLY WINNERS:
Hitter of the Week – Feb. 18 – Skyler Ewing, 1B, Rice; Feb. 25 – A.J. Reed, 1B, Kentucky; March 4 – Ryan Seiz, INF, Liberty; March 11 – Mac James, C/1B, Oklahoma; March 18 – Nic Wilson, 1B, Georgia State; March 25 – Michael Katz, 1B, William & Mary; April 1 – Clint Freeman, 1B, East Tennessee State; April 8 – A.J. Reed, 1B, Kentucky.
Pitcher of the Week – Feb. 18 – Jeremy Null, RHP, Western Carolina; Feb. 25 – Reed Garrett, RHP, VMI; March 4 – Jake Stinnett, RHP, Maryland; March 11 – Javi Salas, RHP, Miami, Fla.; March 18 – Heath Dwyer, LHP, VCU; March 25 – Frankie Vanderka, RHP, Stony Brook; April 1 – Matt Imhof, LHP, Cal Poly; April 8 – Nathan Kirby, LHP, Virginia.
