Miami Marlins 2018 Season Review: Pitcher Chris Reed

Pitcher Chris Reed retired before the start of the 2017 season, then came back in June for a short time.

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 209 of 286.

Christopher William Reed is a 6’3″, 225 lb. left-handed pitcher from Resada, California. He’s the only player to make it to the major leagues from the town, but one of 19 to be drafted. Born on May 20th, 1990, Reed played his high school ball at Cleveland HS. He then played three seasons of college ball with Stanford University. In 53 contests, including 52 trips out of the bullpen, he went 8-2 with a 3.96 ERA and 63 K’s in 71 2/3 innings.

In the first round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft, Reed went 16th overall to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Players chosen at that spot have gone on to the major leagues 66 percent of the time, or 36-of-54. The group is led by Lance Berkman (1997, Houston Astros, 52.1 career WAR), Lance Parrish (1974, Detroit Tigers, 39.5 WAR) and Shawn Green (Toronto Blue Jays, 1991, 34.7 WAR).

Reed spent most of the next five seasons working his way up through the Dodgers system. On July 16th, 2015, Los Angeles traded him to the Miami Marlins for Grant Dayton. He was sent to the triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, in the Pacific Coast League. For them, he racked up a 3.92 ERA over 20 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts. He also had a two-game look with the Marlins, where he gave up two runs in four innings (see below).

In 2016, Reed split his time between the Zephyrs and the double-A Jacksonville Suns, in the Southern League. He put up a 4-4 record and a 3.65 ERA with 65 whiffs in 80 innings. Prior to 2017 Spring Training, Reed announced his retirement.

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On June 16th, 2018, Reed signed a contract with the Miami Marlins through free agency, and reported to the single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League. He pitched five innings over three games, striking out three and giving up one run. Two weeks after that, he was promoted to the double-A level, to the renamed SL’s Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He pitched in one game for them, then was released by the Marlins on July 5th.

Later in the year, Reed signed with the New Britain Bees, in the independent Atlantic League. He struck out 29 in 23 innings and gave up a 3.91 ERA over 21 appearances.

Reed is currently a free agent, and is able to sign with any organization, affiliated or otherwise.

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