From Saxophone to the Mound, Carlson Reed Finding his Footing in Professional Baseball

6-18-24 – Ethan S. Smith / @mvp_EtHaN

Carlson Reed was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB First Year Player Draft, and the West Virginia product has shown plenty of reason to have eyes on him in the lower levels of the system so far in 2024.

Reed, 21, was stellar at West Virginia in 2023, receiving All-Big 12 First Team honors after striking out 60 batters across 38.0 IP in 25 appearances. He was also on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List and the ABCA All-East Region Second Team.

Reed has 11 starts at Low-A Bradenton so far this season, tossing 49.2 IP with a 1.99 ERA, 64 strikeouts and a 1.19 WHIP. Per MLB Prospects, Reed has yet to break the Pirates top-30 prospects list, but with his play so far, one would assume he’ll break through when they update the list mid-season, as they do every year.

On my show, Locked On Pirates, I had a chance to sit down with Reed, discussing a multitude of topics that I am sure all of you will find interesting, and Reed is another pitching prospect you should keep a close eye on moving forward.

How have you felt this season overall, especially with how impressive you’ve looked so far?

Honestly, it’s felt amazing. The transition from here to college is a learning process, and more me learning how to become a professional, that’s kind of the main thing I’ve been focusing on. I mean, I love pretty much everything around here, the staff, the players, it’s been a really comfortable environment and its been pretty easy to focus more on the baseball things than focusing on getting comfortable.

What have you learned so far in the system and what is the biggest difference between WVU and your time with the Pirates?

I have mostly learned how to take it day-by-day and make sure that like, I have been getting into the training room more recently to kind of figure out more about my body than I have before and just kind of doing something everyday to make my body feel good or make my arm feel good, whether I need to know shapes and all that, that’s kind of what we’ve been working on. The coaches kind of being there through everything and they’ll always answer any questions that I have. I’d say the biggest difference between here [Bradenton] and college [West Virginia] is that college builds that mental toughness you need for this… getting thrown into the longest season you’ve ever had, it’s all a learning process, so I truly believe the college aspect has helped me with it.

You were a reliever in college but have transitioned to a starting role, what’s changed during that transition?

With that also comes knowing your role. I’ve kind of gone in-and-out of being a starter, I haven’t truly been able to know who I am as a starter, so that’s also what I’ve been learning down here [Bradenton]. Being a reliever, I’ve taken some reliever things and added it to being a starter. The main thing I learned last year especially was to take it one pitch and one batter at a time. Like especially if I give up a hit, sure, cool, the guy’s on first base, but he can’t really go anywhere unless the guy in front of me does something. So I make sure to stay in the moment, whether I walk someone of whatever, that’s in the past, I have to keep focusing on what’s in front of me.

What coaches have been your biggest influence so far?

Oh, for sure got to with Coach 40 [Matt Ford], he’s been more of a light-hearted coach, which is something I definitely need because I tend to get hard on myself very easily, so he’s kind of implemented that step-by-step process with me and knowing that its not a race. I can take time to actually figure out who I am, I mean, I am still on the younger side, so I can’t keep speeding past the process, I need to live in the process, and he [Ford] reminds me of that, which is really helpful.

What are your thoughts on Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and the rest of the pitching system right now?

I mean, honestly, it’s very cool and encouraging to be in the position I am right now. Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, they’re both around my age and they’re doing very well in the big leagues, so seeing that gives me a confidence boost because it makes me think that I can also do this, this is very attainable for the future. Watching them and taking the time to see what I need to do to get to that level makes it very cool to be in this organization.

Tell Pirates fans one thing about yourself, and what are your short-term and long-term goals?

So, I actually used to play the saxophone, and I have been playing the saxophone since I was in sixth grade, so in the off-season when I have a little more time to myself, I’ll go back into it. I’m a little rusty, but I’ll get there. In terms of short-term goals, especially for this season, I just want to learn how to be a starter for a full season, kind of see how that is because I’ve never really had that before with the elongated season. Long-term goals, I want to be able to touch the field[PNC Park] for the first time, I know I’ve played there twice as West Virginia Mountaineer, but I personally never got to touch the field, so I am still looking forward to that and will hopefully be able to help win the Pirates a World Series again.

Keep a close eye on Reed, as his stuff continues to get better with each outing, as he has yet to allow an earned run in 10.0 IP so far in June, posting an impressive 17 strikeouts to just two walks. He also had a 3.00 ERA in 24.0 IP in May, so Reed is continuing to mold his game and grow into a starting role.

Reed is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, June 19 as the Marauders take on the Lakeland Flying Tigers.