Earlier this week we learned that left-hander Chris Reed had decided to give up on his pursuit of a major league baseball career and surprisingly informed the Miami Marlins that he was retiring from the game.

Dodger fans will recall that Reed was the Dodgers first round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. He was the 16th overall pick making him only the second Dodger to ever have been selected in that slot. Left-hander reliever Steve Howe was the other, chosen by the Dodgers with their 16th overall selection in 1979.

Reed, who was born in London in the United Kingdom on May 20, 1990, attended high school at Grover Cleveland High School in Reseda, California in the San Fernando Valley almost in the shadows of Dodger Stadium a short 25 miles away. The 6’-3” / 225-pound left-hander moved on to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California following his graduation from high school.

His first two seasons with the Stanford Cardinals – as a a starter -were anything but successful and no doubt disappointing. However, Reed found his sea legs in the summer of 2010 playing with the Torrington Titans of the Atlantic Collegiate League. He was named the number one prospect in the league by Perfect Game and was the first member of the 2010 league contingent to be selected in the draft in 2011.

In his junior year at Stanford he was used – with one exception – exclusively as a reliever and gathered some name recognition. He finished the season 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 29 games while limiting opposing hitters to a .211 average and striking out 52 in 52.2 innings.

Although former Dodgers assistant GM Logan White drafted Chris Reed to be a starter, the former Stanford Cardinal was far better suited as a reliever.
(Photo credit – Danny Moloshok)

It was still a bit surprising that Reed was selected by the Dodgers as early in the draft as he was, coming out of his breakout season as a reliever. In his only start during his junior year at Stanford, he struggled and was immediately moved to the bullpen. Dodgers assistant general manager Logan White determined that Reed would be drafted as a starter and said he could possibly arrive in MLB as early as 2013.

“The fact that he’s got three pitches makes me believe, especially with his mechanics and arm action, that he can start,” White said. “We’ll see him up in the big leagues as a starter. We know he can come in out of the bullpen, but we would rather have him up here as a starter.”

Reed was naturally pleased to be slotted into a starting role and what young pitcher wouldn’t be.

“I’m excited to be a starter,” Reed said. “I feel like my body and my mentality is better as a starter. They’re gonna do everything in their power to help me get there.”

Following the draft, Reed reported to the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League and made his professional debut on August 24, 2011, pitching two scoreless innings against the Bakersfield Blaze.

The 22-year-old left-hander was assigned to the Quakes to begin the 2012 season and after six starts was promoted to the AA Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. On the season in 2012, Reed posted a 3.97 ERA in 70.1 innings pitched while striking out 67 and walking 34.

In his 10 games with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (nine starts) over two seasons, Reed posted a 1-5 record and 3.86 ERA, with 47 strikeouts and 18 walks in 42.0 total innings pitched. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

During the 2013 and 2014 seasons Reed continued to work as a starter, moving between Chattanooga and the Albuquerque Isotopes of the AAA Pacific Coast League. In 2013 he posted a 3.86 ERA while recording 106 strikeouts and 62 basses on balls. In 2014 he logged 158.1 innings with a 4.26 ERA along with 134 strikeouts and 66 walks.

During the 2015 season two things happened in Reed’s baseball life. First, he was used strictly in relief, making 38 appearances while striking out 44 and walking 35. Secondly, on July 15, 2015, he was traded to the Miami Marlins for current Dodgers left-hander Grant Dayton.

Reed split the 2016 season between the AA Jacksonville Suns and the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs in the Marlin’s farm system. It appeared his game was coming together as in nine starts with the Zephyrs he pitched 50 innings with a respectable 3.42 ERA and very good WHIP of 1.14. He gave up only 38 hits and limited opposing hitters to a .209 batting average against.

The Miami Marlins are going young and are looking to turn a roster full of young talent into a playoff contender in 2017. Reed was considered to be one of those young talents. Needless to say, the Marlins were surprised at his retirement announcement, and undoubtedly disappointed.

The 26-year-old Reed did make it to the major leagues, having pitched a total of four innings at baseball’s highest level with the Marlins in August of 2015.

Chris Reed’s dream of playing MLB and being a Dodger has come to an end. However, I expect his affinity for the Dodgers will not end, as he comes from a long bloodline of Dodger fans.

Way back in 2011, his father Alan Reed, was on hand for his introduction at Dodger Stadium. That was nothing new for the Reed family which has supported Chris so strongly in his baseball pursuits and who have been Dodger fans for generations. Reed’s great grandfather supported the team when it played in Brooklyn.

“This is it,” Alan Reed said when asked what it felt like to see his son donning a Dodger jersey in Dodger Stadium. “This is baseball to us. This is as big as it can get … Dodger Stadium.”

A new chapter will open in Chris Reed’s life and he will pursuit another dream, supported by his family.

Well done Chris, and thank you for wearing the uniform with honor while setting a positive example with your hard work and dedication for so many young players who are facing the same challenges in this seemingly impossible, yet amazing game.