With the Cincinnati Reds in need of starting pitchers, it may not be long until Cody Reed gets the call.
Reed, No. 63 on the Top 100, was dominant in his third start for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, firing seven innings of one-hit ball to pace the Bats in a shutout against Durham, 3-0. The Reds' No. 3 prospect no-hit the Bulls for five innings before finally allowing a leadoff single in the sixth -- Durham's only knock in the game. He issued one walk and struck out five, with 53 of his 79 pitches going for strikes.
A rain delay in the middle of the sixth inning threatened to end Reed's day early even though he had thrown just 66 pitches to that point. But after nearly 50 minutes on the bench waiting out the delay, the 23-year-old lefty returned to put a bow on his performance with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
Acquired from Kansas City in the Johnny Cueto deal last July, Reed made a strong bid during Spring Training to break camp in the Reds' starting rotation, posting a 2.87 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings (five appearances/four starts). Suffice it to say that success has carried over into his first taste of the Triple-A level. In three starts for Louisville, Reed is 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA and 17/5 K/BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters, meanwhile, are batting just .169 against the 6-foot-5 lefty.
Reed's gem helped get Louisville (13-9) get back on track a day after it had its six-game winning streak snapped with a loss to Durham. Outfielder Jesse Winker (Reds' No. 1) and shortstop Jose Peraza (No. 5) both went 1-for-3 for the Bats in the win, with Peraza also driving in a run in the contest.