Article: Twins Prospect Spotlight: Jake Reed

[Tom Froemming]

The Twins have been churning through relievers, but Jake Reed is still waiting for his opportunity. At least he's making good use of his time. Reed has been tinkering with his mechanics, and has been on a nice roll over the past month down in Rochester.I know, I know, enough minor league band-aids already, right? Well, until the Twins make some moves to acquire arms, it appears they'll continue to audition in-house candidates in the bullpen.

 

Over the past two weeks, we've seen Zack Littell, Ryan Eades and now Fernando Romero all make cameo appearances with the big club. When is Jake Reed finally going to get his shot?

 

Well, a lot of it will have to do with timing. Often when a bullpen move is made, the team is looking to promote a fresh arm as much as anything, or someone who could provide them with length. But Reed has a solid track record, is showing he's open to making adjustments and has been on a nice roll of late for the Red Wings.

 

Reed delivered two scoreless innings and struck out three batters this afternoon for Rochester. His totals for the year don't jump off the page, but over his last eight appearances, Reed has only given up two earned runs over 16 1/3 innings ( 1.10 ERA) and has 19 strikeouts.

 

He's also been tinkering with his release point. The video below contains a comparison between where he was releasing the ball earlier this year and where he was this afternoon (skip ahead to about the 1:15 mark for that). Reed has always had a lower arm slot, but he's really dropping it down to sidearm now.

 

 

Will this adjustment be what (finally) gets him up with the Twins? It's hard to say, but with the rate the team is currently cycling through relievers, it feels like it's only a matter of time before Reed's number gets called.

 

Previous 2019 Prospect Spotlights

 

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[Danchat]

I've been waiting for this guy to get a chance for over a year now. It doesn't seem like the FO considers him to be a prospect or even as an option with how many times he's been passed over by other players.

[jorgenswest]

From Tom’s video he has made some changes to his arm slot. Maybe that is the edge he needs to make the next step.

[Aerodeliria]

Thanks for the Jake Reed spotlight.

 

I suppose he's next on the merry-go-round of relievers, but I did like what I saw in the clip. Perhaps because of the new sidearm arm slotting, the ball seem to break late and with significant movement.

 

Give him a canteen and let's send him up the hill

[goulik]

Free Jake Reed!

[Han Joelo]

Despite Houston getting the lion's share of the credit for Pressly's success, the Twin's gave him a chance and stuck with him for quite a while.  I feel like Reed, who I believe chose to return to the Twins this year, will get his chance, and perhaps finally figure out how to use his stuff--another late bloomer.

 

Isn't he about the last man standing out of that "vaunted" reliever draft (or two?) of high velocity arms?  Burdi, Chargois, Curtiss, a Matt maybe--there were a bunch of intriguing hard throwers.

[wavedog]

Nice article on Jake - at this point he is certainly worth calling up for a shot especially while he is on a hot streak.   

[VATwinsFan]

Looks quite a bit like Jeff Reardon.  I say give him a chance.

[ashbury]

Free Jake Reed!

To A Good Home

[laloesch]

 

I've been waiting for this guy to get a chance for over a year now. It doesn't seem like the FO considers him to be a prospect or even as an option with how many times he's been passed over by other players.

 

I agree. I've been waiting for the Twins to give this guy a call for quite some time now. Hopefully he gets it soon the BP needs help.

[Steve Lein]

 

I've been waiting for this guy to get a chance for over a year now. It doesn't seem like the FO considers him to be a prospect or even as an option with how many times he's been passed over by other players.

 

Just a year? I'm at like 3 years now, haha

[Steve Lein]

Changeup is nasty.

[birddog]

Why not? Next man up. Romero and McGill didn't do the job yesterday, so we still can't trust them and until Twins starters can go 7+ innings we have to use 3 relievers most games so we need to keep going back to AAA for fresh (not necessarily effective) arms. Would have to drop a player to add him to the 40-man roster but I don't think that's a problem. We are not in panic mode with our RP, but I'm beginning to worry. Trevor Hildenberger get better soon.

[LA_NorthStar]

Make this video part of a series called "Wholesome Chuckles with Tom Froemming"

[Tom Froemming]

 

Make this video part of a series called "Wholesome Chuckles with Tom Froemming"

That's just what I'm gonna rename my entire YouTube channel

[Tom Froemming]

 

Changeup is nasty.

Right!? I don't recall that being such a weapon for him in the past, though it could be he just never had that working the times I've caught him on MiLB.tv. Maybe the different arm angle is helping that pitch? All I know is if he's trying to figure out how to drop down and throw a good change, it's awfully handy that he has Trevor Hildenberger around to bounce ideas off of.

[Vanimal46]

I don't have any expectations he will be the savior we're looking for in the bullpen. I guess it doesn't hurt to see if he catches fire for a couple of appearances.

 

I was hoping they would rifle through all of these options last year when they weren't in contention.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't have any expectations he will be the savior we're looking for in the bullpen. I guess it doesn't hurt to see if he catches fire for a couple of appearances.

 

I was hoping they would rifle through all of these options last year when they weren't in contention.

Perhaps the worst part of a lost year.... Not seeing what the youth had. Given what others have done this year, I can't see any reason not to give him a shot.

[nicksaviking]

With all the promotions of no-name journeymen and prospects who lost their luster years ago, it just seems so weird that Reed has been passed over for three years now. I mean the Twins have already had 18 guys throw relief innings this year and you can add in 15 completely different guys that pitched out of the pen last year but are already gone. And no, that doesn't count the position players. 

 

There's got to be more to this story, how is it possible Reed is 33rd in line for the job?

[Vanimal46]

With all the promotions of no-name journeymen and prospects who lost their luster years ago, it just seems so weird that Reed has been passed over for three years now. I mean the Twins have already had 18 guys throw relief innings this year and you can add in 15 completely different guys that pitched out of the pen last year but are already gone. And no, that doesn't count the position players.

 

There's got to be more to this story, how is it possible Reed is 33rd in line for the job?

Reminds me of AJ Achter back in the day. Eye popping numbers in the minors, and always passed up for other players. When he did get his chance he wasn't very good at the MLB level.

 

I trust these guys see something that won't translate well at the MLB level... Hence why he's continuously denied the promotion.

[Steve Lein]

 

Right!? I don't recall that being such a weapon for him in the past, though it could be he just never had that working the times I've caught him on MiLB.tv. Maybe the different arm angle is helping that pitch? 

 

I don't either. Always remember him as a fastball (straight and runner/sinker) and slider guy.

 

I always had to go more overhand to make my changeup or 2-seamer move, but sidewinders seem to always have crazy movement in both directions (see Pat Neshek), maybe that alteration is the secret sauce for him.

[Steve Lein]

 

Reminds me of AJ Achter back in the day. Eye popping numbers in the minors, and always passed up for other players. When he did get his chance he wasn't very good at the MLB level.

I trust these guys see something that won't translate well at the MLB level... Hence why he's continuously denied the promotion.

 

He's had issues with his command and allowing walks (and some injuries), but he's got the stuff.

 

He's not throwing 88-90 MPH slop fastballs like Achter and others, his is in mid-90's. Torii Hunter called him "nasty" in Spring Training few years ago.

 

 

[Vanimal46]

He's had issues with his command and allowing walks (and some injuries), but he's got the stuff.

 

He's not throwing 88-90 MPH slop fastballs like Achter and others, his is in mid-90's. Torii Hunter called him "nasty" in Spring Training few years ago.

For sure. Didn't intend to compare Achter and Reed's stuff...

 

Most casual fans just take a glance at a player's B-Ref page, see the eye popping numbers, and clamor for the player to be called up. Jake Reed's case reminds me of that.

[nicksaviking]

 

Reminds me of AJ Achter back in the day. Eye popping numbers in the minors, and always passed up for other players. When he did get his chance he wasn't very good at the MLB level.

I trust these guys see something that won't translate well at the MLB level... Hence why he's continuously denied the promotion.

 

I could be wrong, but I thought Reed actually has some good pitches and good velocity. Achter and Anthony Slama were junkball righties throwing 89-90 MPH. I thought Jake Reed had mid-90s stuff, has that changed?

[jrod23]

 

Just a year? I'm at like 3 years now, haha

 

Same.  Prior to his struggles this year, what more does the guy have to do?

[jmlease1]

I think if he hadn't started making some more radical adjustments he wasn't going much further. His season to date numbers ain't great: career high in HR/9, career high in BB/9. Hopefully the adjustment gets him going on a sustainable basis, but I'm not surprised that took another run at Romero first this year.

[strumdatjaguar]

Also add Randy Moss and Cris Carter.  

[GM64]

It looks not so much like the arm-into-the-shoulder Position is any different, but rather that at the pelvis he is no longer leaning left. Much more straight up and down. There does also seem to be a little less tilt in the elbow, but I think the majority of the difference in angle has to do with his more vertical trunk position.

[Thrylos]

Would be nice to see him (and DJ Baxendale btw) get a shot this summer.  And it might happen as soon as Magill is out the door.

One thing:  At 27 years old in September, he is not quite a prospect any more.

[Jham]

It looks not so much like the arm-into-the-shoulder Position is any different, but rather that at the pelvis he is no longer leaning left. Much more straight up and down. There does also seem to be a little less tilt in the elbow, but I think the majority of the difference in angle has to do with his more vertical trunk position.

I think you may be correct. I think this allows him to push more with his lower body while staying balanced. Don't know if this is a Wes Johnson thing but I like it. Pushing up of the rubber gives the illusion of a low to high release while still maintaining some height. Fastball can appear to rise. Break on of speed seems more dramatic. Pat Neshek is the first guy that comes to mind. Threw hard for sidewinder.