A.J. Reed: The Most Dominant Two-Way Star in College Baseball History
A Season for the Ages
Andrew Joseph “A.J.” Reed isn’t just one of the greatest Kentucky Wildcats ever. He put together one of college baseball’s most legendary single seasons. In 2014, Reed achieved what few thought possible: dominating both as a hitter and a pitcher, earning Unanimous National Player of the Year honors from every major selector.
His numbers that year were jaw-dropping:
- .336 batting average, 23 HR, 73 RBI (led NCAA in homers & slugging% at .735)
- 12-2 record, 2.09 ERA as Kentucky’s Friday night ace
- SEC Player of the Year & SEC Male Athlete of the Year (across all sports)
No player in modern college baseball had ever led the nation in home runs while also being their team’s top pitcher until Reed.
From Kentucky Legend to MLB Dream
A two-time First-Team All-SEC selection and 2012 Freshman All-American, Reed finished his UK career with:
- .306 avg, 40 HR, 168 RBI
- 19-13 pitching record, 2.83 ERA
Drafted in the 2nd round (2014) by the Houston Astros, he climbed the minors as a power-hitting first baseman, winning 2016 Minor League Player of the Year (MiLB.com) after crushing 34 HR with 127 RBI across two levels.
Though his MLB career never matched his college dominance, Reed became a four-year major leaguer, playing for the Astros (2016-18) and White Sox (2019).
Legacy & Honors
- 2014 Golden Spikes Award (nation’s top amateur player)
- 2014 Dick Howser Trophy (college baseball’s Heisman)
- 2014 ABCA National Player of the Year
- Kentucky’s only unanimous National Player of the Year in any sport
- SEC Male Athlete of the Year (first UK baseball player ever to win it)
Reed’s 2014 season remains a benchmark for two-way excellence, a year so statistically absurd that some argue no college player has matched it since.