Late 2000's Mets Outfielder: Jeremy Reed (2009)

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Jeremy Thomas Reed was born June 15, 1981 in San Dimas California. The six foot left handed hitting Reed was a graduate of Long Beach State University.

By 2003 he was one of the top five outfield prospects in the minor leagues. Scouted as a good defensive outfielder that had trouble hitting left handed pitching.

He was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2002, but was soon traded with Miguel Olivo to the Seattle Mariners for Freddy Garcia & Ben Davis. He hit over .400 in 66 games at AA Birmingham in 2003 getting promoted to AAA in 2004. In the latter part of the year he batted .305 at AAA Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League.

He got a September call up and made the most of it, hitting .397 in 18 games for the '04 Mariners. He became the Mariners everyday left fielder in 2005 hitting 33 doubles, but only hit three HRs while batting .254. He was beginning to show more power in 2006 hitting six HRs with 17 RBIs in 212 at bats, and was moved to over to play centerfield.

The fearless outfielder got injured when he ran into the outfield wall chasing down a fly ball. After his return he then broke his thumb diving for a ball in the outfield & he was done for the year. He was cut in Spring Training 2007 and sent to the minor leagues where he hit .300. 

He returned in a brief call up in Seattle batting.176 in 13 games. He made the dismal 2008 Mariner squad, that lost 101 games, playing in 97 game, batting .269 with two HRs 18 doubles & 31 RBIs.

On Dec 10, 2008 he was involved in a three-team trade coming the New York Mets with J.J. Putz & Sean Green in exchange for Endy Chavez, Aaron Heilman, Jason Vargas, Ezekiel Carrera and Mike Carp. Reed debuted as a defensive replacement on Opening Day 2009. He then got first Mets hit on April 29th 2009 when he singled in the 9th inning at Florida tying up a game against the Marlins.

Through mid May, Reed was hitting .385 for the Mets and began to get more playing time. By early July his average was still up over .290 as the Mets season began to go downhill. Reed's average fell to .242 by the end of the year as well. He got into 126 games for the ’09 Mets never hitting a HR in 161 at bats. He had six doubles, two triples with nine RBIs, while posting a perfect .1000 fielding % in 69 outfield games.

Reed was granted free agency at the end of the year signing with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2011 he was a brief member of the NL Central Champion Milwaukee Brewers playing in seven games. In 2012 he became a  free agent but was never signed.

In a eight year career he batted .252 with 315 hits 12 HRs 67 doubles 12 triples & 110 RBIs in 483 career games.

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