Eric Reed

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #18 prospect in 2006
  Reed opened eyes with a Cape Cod League batting title 2001 but fell in the 2002 draft after a disappointing junior season at Texas A&M. He has battled injuries as a pro, missing the second half in 2004 after breaking his wrist in a bar fight, and struggling in 2005 following hernia surgery and a rib injury suffered when he ran into an outfield wall. Reed's speed remains his top tool, as he has been timed at 3.8 seconds to first. Many believe he's faster and a better defender than Juan Pierre, whom he'll replace as Florida's center fielder this year. Reed also is an excellent bunter and has an average arm. To hit near the top of the lineup, he still needs to control the strike zone better. He has limited power. Though his body fat is just 3 percent, he still could add more muscle to his upper half. He also needs to get better jumps as a basestealer.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #6 prospect in 2005
  Reed led the Cape Cod League in hitting in 2001 but fell in the 2002 draft after a poor junior season. Despite a wiry frame, he's a former high school powerlifting champion who squatted 450 pounds at Texas A&M. He missed the last three months in 2004 after breaking his wrist in a bar fight. Reed has 80 speed, regularly timed at 3.8 seconds to first base. Often compared to Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre, he may be faster and a better defender. He's a tremendous bunter with gap power. His arm is average. Reed still strikes out too much for his skill set. He must do a better job of sticking to his strike zone and not expanding with two strikes. Taking more pitches would help as well. He's in great shape and has just 3 percent body fat, but he still needs to add bulk to his upper body. To scrape off rust, Reed played in the Arizona Fall League after the 2004 season. He figures to return to Double-A, where he'll continue to prepare himself as Pierre's eventual replacement. Pierre could receive a huge bump through arbitration after 2005, which could add urgency to Reed's development.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #8 prospect in 2004
  Reed led the Cape Cod League in hitting in 2001 but fell in the 2002 draft after a poor junior season at Texas A&M. Despite a wiry frame, he's a former high school powerlifting champion who squatted 450 pounds in college. He signed for $85,000 and has wasted little time showing the Marlins they got a steal. Reed is close to an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's an excellent bunter, even with two strikes. An Ichiro Suzuki admirer, he understands his limitations and doesn't bother trying to lift balls. Widely considered the best defender in the system, he shows remarkable range and jumps in center field. He also has an average to slightly better arm. Naturally aggressive, Reed is working on taking more pitches and getting comfortable in deep counts. His pitch recognition needs work, and he's still learning how to turn on inside pitches rather than trying to slap everything the other way. He also needs to get better leads and hone his basestealing skills. The organization's 2003 player of the year, Reed figures to move up to Double-A in 2004. His arrival could synchronize nicely with the end of Juan Pierre's contract after 2005.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #17 prospect in 2003
  Reed plummeted in the 2002 draft after a poor junior season, but the Marlins put more stock in what he did in the Cape Cod League, where he won the batting title with a .365 average the summer before. Considered perhaps the strongest player on the Texas A&M team, Reed can bench press upwards of 270 pounds despite a wiry frame. Marlins assistant general manager Jim Fleming has a theory that stronger hitters may struggle with metal bats, and Reed, who has 3 percent body fat, apparently qualifies. Signed for $85,000 as a ninth-round pick, Reed is close to an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale. He has blazing speed to first and in the outfield. He's an excellent bunter, even with two strikes, but needs to refine his basestealing skills, which the Marlins expect he'll be able to do. Some consider him a poor man's Ichiro Suzuki. Reed can change a game with his speed, slapping balls the other way and beating out the occasional routine three-hopper to shortstop. Developing more patience would allow him to draw more walks, a must for a player who can create such havoc on the bases. Reed figures to have some gap power as he increases his understanding at the plate, though he had just seven extra-base hits in 71 pro games and just 14 extra-base hits (one homer) in 133 college contests. In the field, he's already capable of jaw-dropping plays. He has an above-average arm and tremendous range. He may start 2003 back in low Class A, where he hit .360 in a short stint at the end of last season.