Former GATOR Players

Michael "Buddy" Reed - 29 year old switchhitting Gator centerfielder 2014-2016. Drafted by the Padres with the 48th overall pick, 2nd round in the 2016 draft. Pprogressed thorugh their minor leagues intil December 2019 when he was traded to the Oakland A's. There was no minor league season in 2020 due to the COVID shutdown, but in 2021 Reed played most of the year for the AAALas Vegas Aviators where he hit .255. He played 20 games for the same team in 2022 and was hitting only .196 when he was released on May 10. A month later the Dodgers signed him to a minor league contract and hit .247 with their AA affiliate. In 2023 he was promoted to the Oklahoma City Dodgers, AAA, but they released him on April 29. On May 13, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and assigned to their AAA team, the Nashville Sounds. By July 19 he was hitting only .209 and was released. On December 19, 2023, he was signed to a minor league contract by the Texas Rangers. He is currently on the Arizona Complex League Rangers, a rookie-level affiliate, where they are working with him as a pitcher.

 

Must be tough to get close enough to taste it and never make it to The Show. He might have made it if the old roster expansion rules were in place.

 

I guess this counts.. O' Day doing some Braves game on radio, he said aound 50. Orioles broadcast crew doing a little interview w/ him pre game tonight w/ Braves in town. Hes still a fan/franchise favorite in B-more.

Video | Facebook

 

Hurston Waldrep to the IL after two (lousy) MLB starts with "elbow inflammation". I hope it is minor and he recovers soon. But, even if it ends up in TJ -- let's face facts, with his splitter-ish out-pitch, we all have to suspect he'll need it one day -- he's still gonna get MLB service time & payment and closer to arbitration and free agency.

 

Pretty cool seeing some Gator:Gator action. Brady Singer facing off against Wyatt last night. Singer was pitching really well. Struck Wyatt out first time they squared off but Wyatt tagged Brady for an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1 early. Later, Wyatt hit a RBI single off of the Earl the Royals put in that scored 2. Wyatt hitting almost .450 with RISP.

 

Wyatt hit his first grand slam today. That’ll help your RISP number!

 

Wyatt may be turning a corner. He’s hit 13 for 36 (.361) over his last 10 games. His season average was .229 before that and is now up to .254.

 

Ranger “fans” on social media have been as disrespectful of Wyatt as any I’ve seen. People just seem to be looking for reasons to be dicks. OC, I see it here too. I guess the older I get the less likely I am to find “youngsters playing sports” as a basis for being a dick myself. Then I die - and I care even less!

 

It's called the Human Condition.

I'm in complete agreement with you though.

 

Cool to see the established stars on the team acknowledging Wyatt in their actions and comments. He is clearly being seen as a contributor to the effort. The respect of his peers is telling.

 

Looks like India has set a Reds franchise record by doubling in 7 straight games.

https://local12.com/sports/reds/his...i-pete-rose-johnny-bench-barry-larkin-doubles

 

Wyatt hit for the cycle yesterday in Camden yards. His speed on the basepaths was a factor in everything but the home run. Outfielders that casually play any ball he hits will look up to find him going for an extra base. Even the single was fielded by the shortstop deep in the dirt and he looked up and didn't even attempt the throw. Wyatt is definitely in the Rookie of the Year discussion.

Oh and Wyatt is the first player in MLB history to hit for the cycle, hit a grand slam and hit an inside-the-park home run in a single season...or should I say "half a season", because we aren't even at the All-Star break yet. I know Cags is a generational talent but we had two at the same time, it would appear.

 

WOW!!! The double looked like a routine single for anyone else.

texas rangers - Search Videos

 

Wyatt turned another double into a triple again last night vs. the Padres. There's 'fast' and there's 'baseball fast'. I don't know how Wyatt would stack up in a straight-line 100m dash but around 3 90 degree turns he's got world-class speed! I've never seen anyone launch out of the batter's box the way he does.

 

In his prime the Mick….(that’s pretty damn special comparison).

 

Very true. As a kid my 2 heroes were Mickey Mantle & Johnny Unitas. I have biographies of both and Mantle's story was sad. One of the GOAT's, for sure, but if he had taken care of his body, not drank and caroused so much, he could have been the absolute best. An early comparison of Langford to Mantle is special and I think Wyatt WILL take care of himself and, hopefully, develop into a great one.

 

That was my two also. In addition to taking care of himself, if arthroscopic surgery was available when he shredded his knee in his rookie season.

 

He flashed some defensive leather in yesterday's loss to the Padres, who took the series. A HR robbing catch at the wall then later throwing a hose to the plate to get the Padre trying to score. Wyatt has been a bright light in a rough season for the defending champs. RE his health: He seems to have no negative habits, is already married and living in the bright-lights-big-city of DFW, if he can avoid the nonsense, he'll be fine.

 

I've been to DFW. Last time ws in 2014 for the FF at Jerry's World. My younger brother lived just outside Ft Worth in a McMansion. Retired and no longer lives there.

The biggest problem will be to not eat a lot of Texas beef BBQ. Not the healthiest but tastes so damn good. Even better Texas BBQ in Austin. Franklin's is world famous but the Salt Lick is really good.

 

Don’t forget about the Texas chili—it’s always served with a bowl of vanilla ice cream. (That way the next morning you can be prepared to say “Come on ice cream”)……