Outlook 

Began his career at Air Force before walking on at Kentucky after a meeting of chance with a player…Hit all over the lineup in 2016 but is expected to settle near the top of the order this season…Coaching staff loves his approach and believes his breakout performance last year was legitimate and will be repeated in his senior season…Has mostly been a line drive hitter but did hit seven home runs in 2016 and the staff feels he will flash more power…Will be an everyday outfielder for the Cats, likely in left field…Coaches and teammates speak highly of his work ethic and no-nonsense attitude…Could be an All-SEC player with a step forward in 2017.

Summer

Appeared in 36 games with the DeLand Suns of the Florida Collegiate League…Hit .256 with five doubles, one triple, one home run and 15 walks…Had 11 of the Suns’ 36 team steals…Scored 25 runs and knocked in 14 RBI…Team made the FCL playoffs.

2016

Appeared in 53 with 42 starts…Batted .331 in 154 at bats with 27 runs scored, five doubles, seven home runs and 22 runs batted in…Finished second on the team in batting for the season …Slugged .500 and had an on-base percentage of .425…Showed a great eye at the plate, walking 22 times against just 20 strikeouts…Stole three bases…Started 30 of the team’s final 32 games as he settled into the full-time left-field role…Had 11 multi-hit games…Notched a hit in 12 consecutive games started from 4/30 to 5/19…Had three hits three times…Went 3-of-5 with two runs and two RBI at Tennessee on 4/3…Went 5-of-9 with a run, home run and four RBI in consecutive games at Auburn on 4/30 and 5/1…Smacked a home run as part of a 3-of-4 effort at Indiana on 5/10…Hit .316 in SEC play, second-highest on the team…Had 20 two-strike hits on the season…Had eighth sacrifices… Started 33 games in left field and nine in right field…Had just one error and a .989 fielding percentage.

2013 (Air Force Academy) 

Played in 37 games with 21 starts at the Air Force Academy, batting .210 (21-for-100) with 10 runs, five doubles, one triple and eight RBI. 

High School

Lettered four years in baseball and one in golf … All-state as a junior and senior … Set a conference record with a .609 batting average in his career in league play … All-conference and all-area both years as well … Batted .495 with four homers and 46 RBI as a senior … Batted .537 with four homers and 27 RBI as a junior … National Honors Society member … High school baseball coach was Jim Morsovillo … Played summer ball for Upper Deck, coached by Chuck Williams and Keith Bauer.

Personal 

Full name is Zachary Joseph Reks … Son of Todd and Yolanda Reks … Born in Chicago … Has a younger sister, Haley (18) … Major is Mechanical Engineering… Father swam collegiately at Northern Illinois…Favorite MLB team is the Chicago Cubs…Wears the No. 40 because of the rapper E-40…Favorite SEC road venue is Ole Miss.