Cody Reed fared far better in his sixth start with the Cincinnati Reds than any other of his prior starts.
The 23-year-old ace-in-the-making did not allow an earned run in six innings against the Atlanta Braves. He had allowed nine home runs in 24.2 innings prior to his start.
The Braves’ top of the order rudely greeted Reed to start the game with three hard hit balls off mid-90’s fastballs. Fortunately for Reed, great defensive plays by Joey Votto and Adam Duvall prevented any damage from the hard contact.
Overall, Reeds showed his high ceiling in his latest start. His mid-90’s fastball combined with a wipe-out slider and occasional change-up offer a three-pitch mix that positions Reed as a potential fixture for the Reds’ rotation for years to come.
The Braves did score two unearned runs against Reed. Errors by Eugenio Suarez and Jay Bruce allowed the runs to plate. The shoddy Reds’ defense and overall losing culture in the clubhouse are compelling reasons for the Reds to separate Reed from the lost cause of this 2016 Reds’ season.
The 2016 outlook for the Reds’ clubhouse culture won’t be any rosier if the team trades Bruce and Zack Cozart. But if Reed continues to rise above the Reds’ quagmire, the team’s future looks more promising more quickly.
The Reds are banking on Reed to be a front-end rotation starter perhaps even more so than other top pitching prospects Amir Garrett or Robert Stephenson.
While the stuff is there for Reed to thrive, the success hasn’t come yet at the major league level. Reed cruised through the minors since joining the Reds’ organization. He pitched in Double-A last year after he was acquired in the Johnny Cueto trade. He was promoted to the Reds this year after just 11 starts in Triple-A.
The 2016 Reds might lose more games than any season in franchise history. But if Reed can string together more starts like his most recent one, some of that sting of a wasted season will be lessened.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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