Evan Reed

Evan David Reed

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 255 lb.
• School California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo
• High School Quincy (CA) High School
• Debut May 16, 2013
• Final Game September 19, 2014
• Born December 31, 1985 in Santa Maria, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Evan Reed made the majors in 2013.

Reed redshirted as a college freshman. As a redshirt sophomore in 2007, he went 5-4 with 11 saves and a 3.82 ERA. He made second-team All-Big West Conference. The Texas Rangers took him in the third round of the 2007 amateur draft, between two other players who would make the majors in 2013: Neftali Soto and Derek Dietrich. The scout was Todd Guggiana.

Evan moved to a starting role his first seasons in the minors. In 2007, he pitched for the Spokane Indians (9 H, 23 K in 17 2/3 IP, 4 ER) and the Clinton Lumber Kings (1-1, 1.80, 9 H in 20 IP). He split 2008 between the Lumber Kings (1-0, 1.50 in 2 G), Frisco RoughRiders (1-0, 0 R in 5 IP) and the Bakersfield Blaze (7-10, 6.25). In the high-offense California League, he tied for 6th in losses, tied for 9th in runs allowed (94) and was 8th in earned runs allowed (86). In the Rangers chain, the hefty righty was third in defeats, tied for 9th in wins, 4th in runs allowed and third in earned runs allowed.

Reed returned to relief in 2009 and did much better. He was 2-2 with 25 saves and a 2.96 ERA for Bakersfield, fanning 65 though walking 28 in 48 2/3 IP. He led Texas farmhands in saves (8 ahead of runner-up Warner Madrigal) and was third in the California League. He began 2010 with Frisco and was very sharp (1-1, 5 Sv, 1.62 in 30 G) and won his only appearance for the Oklahoma City RedHawks. He was then traded with Omar Poveda to the Florida Marlins for Jorge Cantú. After the deal, he pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings for the Jacksonville Suns before an injury ended his season.

The Californian had Tommy John surgery prior to 2011 and saw limited action on rehab stints for the GCL Marlins (15 H, 4 R in 8 2/3 IP) and the Jupiter Hammerheads (0-1, 4.02 in 11 G, 9 H in 15 2/3 IP). In 2012, he pitched for the Suns (3-1, 12 Sv, 2.34, 43 K in 34 2/3 IP, 1.01 WHIP) and New Orleans Zephyrs (2-3, Sv, 7.16 in 23 G). His 50 pitching appearances tied for second in the Marlins chain, behind A.J. Ramos, and he tied for 4th in saves. The Marlins waived Reed in early April and he was picked up by the Detroit Tigers. Assigned to the Toledo Mud Hens, he was 0-1 with a 2.91 ERA after 15 games, striking out 28 in 21 2/3 innings.

Reed was then called up to replace Al Albuquerque in the Tigers bullpen. He made his debut in a 10-4 loss to the Texas Rangers on May 16, 2013, replacing Darin Downs with one on and one out in the 6th, trailing 9-4. He retired Ian Kinsler and struck out Elvis Andrus to end that inning and then got Lance Berkman and Adrian Beltre to open the 7th. Nelson Cruz took Reed deep, but he recovered to retire Mitch Moreland. In the 8th, he retired Geovany Soto, allowed a David Murphy single then got Leonys Martin and Kinsler to cap a solid debut with one run in 2 2/3 IP. After another productive outing (1 1/3 scoreless innings), though, he was shipped back to Toledo, his spot taken by Luke Putkonen. He later came back to make a total of 16 appearances for Detroit, with a loss and a 4.24 ERA. He was 1-4, 2.54 in 32 games for Toledo, pitching 49 2/3 innings in AAA and 23 1/3 in the majors.

Reed made the Tigers' bullpen out of spring training in 2014 and was not scored upon in his first two appearances. He ran into trouble of another kind, however, when it was announced on April 7th that he was under investigation for a sexual assault alleged to have taken place on March 30th. Reed's accuser claimed she was in a Royal Oak, MI bar late that night and believed she was drugged by Reed and taken against her will to a hotel where the alleged assault occurred, which she reported to police the next day. Following the completion of the investigation, he was formally charged with two counts of criminal sexual conducts on July 30th, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charges were dismissed by a judge on August 21st, when he ruled that the alleged victim was not credible because she had changed her testimony and her behavior, as attested by witnesses, was not consistent with her allegations of having been incapacitated. However, the Wayne County Prosecutor's office successfully appealed the dismissal, reinstating the charges on November 21st. Eventually, he was convicted on a lesser assault charge after a plea bargain and was sentenced to one year's probation and community service.

Related Sites

• Evan Reed on mlb.com