Astros Future Player of the Week: A.J. Reed
Overall for the Houston Astros organization, it was a pretty successful week to start the minor league season. Their four teams that have seen action so far are a combined 18-13, with three of them in first or second place. Needless to say, plenty of players were considered for the Astros Future Player of the Week honors. Several turned in outstanding performances, but the one to take the prize this week was Fresno Grizzlies A.J. Reed.
Reed is playing in his second season in Triple-A and is off to a great start. He has played in all eight of the Grizzlies games so far this season and is showing pop in his bat and patience at the plate. Reed is hitting .333 (9-for-27) with two doubles, two home runs, and six RBI. He’s drawn eight walks giving him an OBP of .486 and is carrying an OPS of 1.115. The one knock so far are his strikeout totals, but that is to be expected for someone that has power hitting in his repertoire. He has reached base safely in all of the games so far this season.
Reed made it to Houston in 2016 and appeared in 45 games for the Astros. He had a difficult time at that level hitting just .164, but did turn in a successful season in Triple-A. With first base occupied in Houston, Reed will have to continue to produce if he wants to force the Astros hands for another call-up at some point in 2017.
A.J. Reed was the Houston Astros second round selection in 2014 out of the University of Kentucky. He’s played 281 games in the minor leagues so far and holds a .316 average. Reed has belted 63 home runs and driven in a total of 237 over that span.
Honorable Mentions
As I previously mentioned, several players could have been considered for this weekly award. Tony Kemp who is Reed’s teammate in Fresno is off to a pretty hot start. He is hitting .400 and is currently riding a 7-game hitting streak to start the season.
Akeem Bostick who as started two games for the Carolina League’s Buies Creek Astros, is 1-0 with an ERA and has yet to give up a run. In his 11 innings of work so far, he’s given up just four hits while striking out nine. Opposing batters are hitting just .111 against him and he is carrying a WHIP of 0.64.
Quad Cities River Bandits pitcher Ryan Hartman is off to a nice start. He’s made two appearances so far with one start and has 11 strikeouts in eight innings.
Buies Creek Astros relief pitcher Nick Hernandez has made three appearances so far and recorded two saves. His .063 batting average against and his 0.43 WHIP are very impressive as well as his seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
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**Photo Credit: Kiel Maddox/Fresno Grizzlies**
