Birthdate: 05/20/1990
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Bats: L
Throws: L
Chris Reed graduated from Cleveland High School, Reseda, Calif. in 2008. Some of the accolades Reed received were second-team All-West Valley League selection as a senior and first-team All-West Valley League selection as a junior in 2007. Reed achieved a 4.2 GPA in school which was enough to accept a scholarship to Stanford.
As a freshman at Stanford, Reed pitched in six games and produced a 15.43 ERA. As a sophomore, he appeared in 19 games, all from the bullpen, and produced a 6.10 ERA. This season, Reed appeared in 28 games, starting in one. In 49.2 innings pitched, Reed struck out 48 and walking 15 which is a respectable 3.20 strikeout per walk ratio. He caught scout's eyes adding oomph to his fastball this spring by hitting 96 in a game.
Reed was not projected to be drafted in the first round by many expert's mock drafts, which adds to the case that the Dodgers drafted Reed for signability. Nevertheless, the Dodgers are expected to try him out as a starter and will likely see time in the minors this year.
From MLB.com:
Reed might be the best arm few knew about heading into this year. The Stanford lefty hadn’t pitched that much prior to this season and was serving as the school’s closer. He’s got the pure stuff for the role, with a fastball that he can get up to 96 mph, sitting typically anywhere from 91 to 95 mph, with good arm-side run.
He complements the plus fastball (mainly a four-seamer) with an outstanding slider, giving him enough right there to excel in short relief. But while his command is average at best, he does have the stuff — his changeup could be a plus pitch in the future as well — along with a strong, durable frame.
He’s still a bit of an unknown quality, but the stuff is there, and that kind of power from the left side doesn’t often exist.
At worst, the team taking him has a lefty setup man who could move quickly. But there might be more there.
From ESPN.com
The genius of college coaches: Chris Reed, a 6-foot-4 left-hander who sits 92-94 as a reliever with two off-speed pitches that will at least flash above-average, has made exactly one start this year for Stanford, instead working out of the pen where he’s been successful but wasted. Reed adds a sharp, short slider in the 82-84 mph range to that fastball and will show a very hard-fading changeup in the upper 70s, throwing strikes with all three pitches but not yet showing the fastball command he’ll need to start in the big leagues. He comes from a slot just under three-quarters and repeats his delivery well enough to start, although he could stay upright longer and get more downhill plane on the fastball. Many scouts like Reed as a potential starter, and we know he can pitch in the bullpen if that doesn’t work out, but I like his chances to end up a No. 2 or 3 starter once he’s stretched out.
The MLB Draft is a three-day event, beginning Monday at 4 p.m. PDT with the first round and supplemental round on MLB Network. For more news and information on the Dodgers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.