Dennis Reed turned to pitching, then pros, saw 3 seasons

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Dennis Reed 1990 Asheville Tourists baseball card

Dennis Reed started out his college career as a catcher. He then went to Canada before his senior campaign at San Luis Obispo and returned wanting to pitch, The San Luis Obispo Tribune wrote.

For Reed, it turned out to be a good enough choice as the Astros selected him in that June's draft as a pitcher.

"I think it wasn't a bad pick to take him because there's probably a lot more in him that an organization can develop," Reed's college pitching coach Kent Agler told The Tribune.

Reed went on from there to see time in three pro seasons. He topped out at single-A.

Reed's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 22nd round of the draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Earlier in his college career, Reed's coach saw him, then a sophomore, as an experienced catcher as the team looked to fill the starting catcher's role, The Tribune wrote in January 1988. Reed was among a couple of candidates.

"Catching is young on paper, but there's a lot of experience there," coach Steve McFarland told The Tribune. "Reed caught for me in Alaska.." 

With the Astros, Reed started at short-season Auburn. He saw 25 relief outings and went 6-4, with a 4.52 ERA.

He moved to single-A Asheville for 1991. He went 4-2, with a 2.73 ERA there in 40 relief outings. He picked up his first win in a May contest, an eighth inning appearance where he gave up one hit and drew praise from his manager Frank Cacciatore. 

"Dennis did a great job tonight. He kept us in the game and made some big pitches in some clutch situations," Cacciatore told The Asheville Times. "He also didn't walk anybody and that's very encouraging."

Reed moved to single-A Burlington for 1992. He got into 18 games in relief. He went 0-2, with a 2.75 ERA. That season marked his last as a pro.

Dennis Reed 1990 Asheville Tourists baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,541
Made the Majors:1,435-31.6%
Never Made Majors:3,106-68.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:582
10+ Seasons in the Minors:359

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