Padres' Reed wins MVP of Fall Stars Game
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SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Buddy Reed's breakout season was derailed a bit when he was promoted to Double-A, but the outfielder got back on track in Arizona, where he has starred offensively.
Reed has been hitting well in the Arizona Fall League and, despite striking out in his first two at-bats of the Fall Stars Game on Saturday at Surprise Stadium, the Padres' No. 13 prospect came through with a game-tying triple in the bottom of the ninth, scored the game-winning run and was named the MVP after the West won, 7-6.
:: 2018 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game ::
"It was down and a little out," Reed said of the pitch he hit for a triple. "I put a good swing on it, Justin [Lawrence] pitched his butt off. I had to choke up because he's a little uncomfortable for me, just throwing 98 to 100 [mph] with sink. So I just choked up and tried to put a good swing on it."
Reed lined an RBI triple to center field that Luis Barrera appeared to have a play on, but the Athletics' prospect crashed into the wall and was unable to make the play.
"I thought it was a homer," Reed said. "Obviously it wasn't, but I just wanted to put a good swing on it."
One batter later, Meibrys Viloria brought Reed home with a walk-off single.
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The MVP Award comes in the middle of what has been an impressive AFL season for Reed.
Reed, a 2016 second-round pick, has hit .375 through 12 games in Arizona and had multi-hit efforts in three of his past four games prior to the Fall Stars Game.
While Reed's fall has been impressive, his season was inconsistent. After slashing .324/.371/.549 through 79 games with Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore, Reed was promoted to Double-A San Antonio, where he hit .179/.227/.235 to finish the season.
Reed has noted that his approach got away from him a bit in Double-A.
"The Fall League, as a whole, is an awesome experience, playing with the top prospect in every organization," Reed said. "Then coming to the [Fall Stars] Game, you get to see guys like Vlad [Guerrero Jr.], Justin Lawrence in the bottom of the ninth, guys that throw hard and that can do a lot with the bat. It's awesome and I had a great time."