On Wednesday, July 13th, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced they had acquired 29-year-old right-handed pitcher Jake Reed from the New York Mets, who had designated him for assignment on Sunday.

If Reed’s name sounds familiar, you would be right. The University of Oregon alumni pitched six games in Dodger Blue during the 2021 season. He was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers on June 4, 2021, and made his MLB and Dodgers debut on July 6, 2021, against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami, albeit for only 0.2 of an inning.

It did not go well.

Although Reed struck out Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper for his first major league strikeout, he allowed one run on three hits to the six Marlins batters he faced, having made 22 pitches and was charged with a blown save.

In his six appearances with the Dodgers in 2021 (including one start), Reed did not record a win or a loss, while posting a 3.38 ERA, with five strikeouts and two walks over his combined 5.1 innings pitched.

After his six major league appearances with the Dodgers, Reed was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where the 6′-2″/195-pound right-hander appeared in nine games, recording an impressive 2.61 ERA with 11 strikeouts. But the former Oregon Duck was designated for assignment by the Dodgers and picked up off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on July 25, 2021. His career with the New York Mets began on August 2, 2021, when they claimed him off waivers from the Rays.

The 2022 major league regular season is going by very fast, and as we approach the All-Star break, the Dodgers bullpen has several missing arms due to injuries. Starting pitcher Andrew Heaney is the latest to be put on the IL due to a left shoulder strain. The left-handed Heaney joins right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson, who is out for the season. One of the most significant heartbreak injuries on the IL is two-time All-Star and 2020 World Series hero Walker Buehler. It is projected that the hard-throwing right-hander may return after September 1, 2022, just in time for playoffs after having bone spurs surgically removed from his right elbow.

With several injured Dodgers pitchers still on the mend and a promise by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that the 2022 World Series winners would be the Los Angeles Dodgers, a new arm in the bullpen is always welcomed.

Reed will begin his second stint with the Dodgers at Triple-A Oklahoma City – for now.

Welcome back to the Dodgers, Jake Reed!

Let’s play ball!

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