Cody Reed's Attitude Adjustment Leads To Improvement

http://donatelifeohio.org/

Cody Reed’s Major League performance hasn't caught up with his obvious talents.
The 24-year old left-hander was a key acquistion in the “Johnny Cueto” trade to the Kansas City Royals in July 2015.  He is competing for a spot in the Reds’ bullpen, as he was left off manager Bryan Price’s list of four contenders for the Reds fifth spot in the starting rotation.

That move is written in pencil and Price emphasized that the move from starter to bullpen is a product of current numbers not ability.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

“We won’t have enough innings for a lot of guys this spring,” Price said.  “The organization still sees him as a starter but if he makes our team, he could help us more out of the bullpen.  We don’t want him to be in long relief. If he makes the team, he’s going to pitch regularly in higher leverage situations.”

An imposing figure at 6‘5“ with tantalizing stuff, Reed has been impressive this early.

“Cody Reed has been above and beyond where he finished the season last year,” Price said.

Reed pitched at three minor league levels in 2015 with his Major League debut June 18, 2016 in Houston.  He struck out nine batters that day in a no-decision.  It was the most strikeouts in a Reds’ debut, since Cueto struck out 10 in debut.

The former second round pick by Kansas City in the 2013 draft, finished his season with back spasms on September 16 with an 0-7 record and a 7.36 ERA in 10 starts.

The Memphis Tennessee native was one of seven rookies to make the opening day roster last season but spent most of the season at Triple A Louisville.  Reed made four relief appearances, picking up his first win in relief on April 6.  He spent most of the season in Louisville, making 20 starts. Reed returned to the Reds’ in September and made seven more relief appearances, finishing with a 1-1 record with a 5.09 ERA

Reed was frustrated with his command and felt sorry for himself until he came to Goodyear early and worked on a throwing program with Michael Lorenzen.

“I changed a lot about my mental aspects,” Reed said.  “It wasn’t just baseball. It is life itself.”

Michael Lorenzen sits in a locker a few feet away from Reed and the two talk a lot.  It appears that his teammate was able to switch on the light for Reed.

“I never would have guessed,” Reed said.  “I love the way he plays.  I love the way he thinks.  He could give up nine runs in one inning or he could strike out nine in 27 pitches.  You would never tell the difference the next day. I just listened to what he thinks about me.  He looked at me and said, How many lefthanders are there that throw, 95-96 with a slider like yours?  I sat there for a second.  He said, ‘no one.’  So what are you doing feeling sorry for yourself.  I was being bitter about every thing.  He got me off that.”

Yes, he changed the grip on his pitch until he built callouses on his fingers where he grips the ball but the improvement was mostly attitude.

“It is not just the way he threw off the mound,” Price said.  “Every thing from his PFP to his bunting.  It is unusual to say something after a few days of workouts. Every facet of his game looks like it’s been enhanced over the course of the last four or five months.”

How do we know it is attitude that makes the difference?

"I didn't work on bunting or fielding until a few days ago," Reed said. "It's great that he noticed.  Maybe it is just working the last two years on those things."