Baseball Player Magazine

Growing up in East Rockaway, New York and playing Little League in Lynbrook, a young baseball player wanted to do what so many other boys his age wanted to do; play baseball in the major leagues. Being a Mets fan and idolizing the likes of Paul Moliter, Todd Hundley and Lenny Dykstra, Reid had no idea at the age of six that his dream would one day come true. Not only would his dream come true, but his first major league hit would come at Shea Stadium in front of his family and friends, while every New York baseball fan cheered him on from home.

Here’s how his first major league game at Shea unfolded. Reid was on the bench at the start of the game. “After Garrett Anderson’s first at bat he came back into the dugout, looked at me and grabbed his back. He walked over to Bobby Cox and said he was done for the day.” With Anderson out, Gorecki was in.

His first at bat lasted one pitch. “I didn’t care what the guy up there was throwing, I was swinging at the first pitch. When I got back to the dugout the guys were getting on me for not giving the commentators enough time to talk about me. I ran into the clubhouse real quick and actually saw that I had received a text message from a friend in the stands that said, “Take the first pitch and swing at the second. My next at bat I did just that. The first pitch was right down the middle. The second pitch was another submarine fastball and I hit a single up the middle and got an RBI. I killed two birds with one stone. It was the greatest feeling in the world.”

This moment for Reid was obviously unbelievable. As a baseball fan listening to his story first hand, and remembering his call up to the Braves, I got chills listening to how it really happened. The road traveled to this moment was one that was very grueling, filled with ups and downs along the way. BPM was able to sit down with Reid and get a look inside the life of both the minor and major leagues.

Thanks for sitting down with us Reid. We’re excited to hear about your baseball career. Can you take us back to where it all started?

I always wanted to be a baseball player. I followed in the footsteps of my older brother who was drafted by the Texas Rangers. Watching my brother play and being able to play baseball for some great coaches, including my father Ron, was what I always wanted to do. I played at Kellenberg Memorial High School and went on to play at the University of Delaware.

Your junior year of college (2002) was your draft year. What happened?

I was drafted in the 13th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. I was hoping to be drafted as a higher draft pick because I was one of the top three outfielders production wise, but in the end I was happy to be drafted. I knew the Marlins were interested in me, but I was told that the Cardinals took a chance on me in the 13th.

So you went and played Rookie Ball for the Cardinals?

Well, right after the draft I started driving up to the Cape. I was thinking about the offer from St. Louis as I was driving up there. I hit northern Connecticut and turned around. I called my signing guy and said I want to play baseball. That night I was on a plane to Florida and I signed the papers in the hotel room. Within a week I was back up in the northeast playing Rookie Ball with the New Jersey Cardinals. I was playing center field and batting third. 

Wow, and how was the rest of your season?

I had a great year and broke a 60-year old record for triples. I hit 13 triples that year, and as of now that is still the record. 

So it’s the end of your first year playing professional ball. What’s the next step? I went to Peoria, Illinois and played “Low A” for the Chiefs. I ended up living across the hall and playing with Matt Lemancyzk. It was cool to play ball with a guy from back home. I finished the season there and was promoted to “High A” in West Palm Beach. I was moved up to AA fairly quickly and played for the Tennessee Smokeys. That was a great season. The team won the championship and I received my first championship ring.

Any big moments you can tell us about?

We were down 2-1 in the championship series. I came up to the plate and hit a double in the seventh inning. I ended up stealing third and eventually scoring. We won that game 3-2 and ended up going on to win the win the championship. That was awesome.

Very cool. So your season was over. Did you take a break and come back home?

No, I was invited to play ball in the Arizona Fall League. I played really well. I hit about .370 and finished second in the league. After that season I was put on the 40-man roster for the St. Louis Cardinals. I was completely pumped. I was on the same roster as Edgar Renteria, Jeff Suppan and Albert Pujols. It was unbelievable. 

So you go to big league camp in 2005 for the Cardinals. Seems like everything is going really well for you?

Things were going well. At the end of big league camp I was sent to Springfield, Missouri to start the ball at AA. It was a new stadium and every night the stadium was packed. I had a tough season. I don’t know if I put to much pressure on myself, but I wasn’t mentally ready. Halfway through the season I was demoted to A ball in West Palm Beach. When I got down there we started playing good baseball. We rallied around each other and ended up having a great second half of the season. We ended up beating the Lakeland Tigers and Vero Beach Dodgers. We won the championship. That team really came together. It ended up being an exciting season.

So you end the year playing well and you’re still on the 40-man roster. Do you go back to big league camp in the spring of 2006?

I did and I hit the ball great. I really thought I was going to make the team. At the end of camp I was sent to AA ball back in Springfield. The atmosphere there was amazing. I had a great first two months and ended up getting promoted to AAA. It was a weird feeling though because I was leaving a great team in AA to go play in front of a couple of hundred people on a struggling team in Memphis.

WIth having some success at the higher levels, do you think that your chance could be coming soon for that call up?

I went to back to camp that spring. I don’t remember how I found out, but I wasn’t on the 40-man roster anymore. I started off the year in 2007 at AA and about the 6th game in I had a 12 pitch at bat. The 13th pitch was up and in and I ended up getting hit and breaking my hamate bone. What should have been a 7 stitch wound and six week recovery period, turned into a 53 stitch surgery and an additional 6-8 weeks before I could play. I played the rest of the season and went home and continued to rehabilitate my hand.

Did you return to big league camp in 2008?

I wasn’t invited back to big league camp in 2008. I started out in AAA camp. I was leading off and playing everyday. On the last day of camp my name wasn’t on any of the rosters. Nobody told me I was losing my job. I didn’t say anything. I just came home. 

That must have caught you off guard?

It definitely did. I stayed in West Palm for about a week and then came back to NY. I started working and was making pretty good money. Under the circumstances I was happy.

Wow. So one day  you’re playing baseball, and the next you’re working for your friend doing sales on Long Island. How long did you keep that job?

About a month after I got home I got a call from Kurt Kemp from the Atlanta Braves. I thought it was one of my buddies joking around with me so I hung up on him. He called me back and I realized it wasn’t a joke. The Atlanta Braves had a 50 game opening. I packed my bags and went down to Orlando. After 50 games I had played well. The team seemed to like having me around. Our team ended up winning the championship. It turned out to be a great year. 

That’s exciting. So it is the fall of 2009, are you home working out?

No, the organization actually sent me to play in Mexico. I was excited to be playing. The Braves were giving me opportunities.

So what opportunity came next?

I got an invite to spring training. I was playing with the AAA team. I was playing a lot of baseball. Our AAA team was finished playing around 11:00. There were about 16 guys who would then go and play inter-squads with the major league camp. I was on cloud nine. This was my father’s favorite team and I was around some legendary people and possible hall of famers.

Sounds like everything was going in the right direction for you?

You would think so, but I started to get lost in the shuffle. I was the only outfielder not on the 40-man roster. My manager at the time called me into his office to tell me they were sticking with me and to stop beating myself up. Right then I turned it around. I ended up hitting about .290.

They obviously saw something in you? Your summer was going to take a turn. Tell us what happened.

I think it was August 16th and I just needed a day off. We had a 12:00 game so the first pitch is around 11:45. I went out and caught the first pitch. When I got back into the dugout I was called up to the managers office. I didn’t know what I did. My manager at the time told me he wanted to give me the day off but that I had to go play for Bobby Cox. I almost tackled my manager. I got in the car and drove 50 minutes south. At 4:00 on the same afternoon that I wanted a day off I was in the dugout at Turner Field in an Atlanta Braves uniform.

That’s incredible. Can you even explain what it was like?

It was unbelievable. It’s hard to even describe. I knew a lot of the guys from camp so I was met with open arms. I even ended up getting into the game in the seventh inning. There was a ball hit to me in left field. For the first time since I was six years old I was so nervous. For those who saw it, a fly ball was hit to me and I caught the ball behind my head.

Behind your head? (with a laugh)

Yes! The whole thing was unreal. I don’t even know who hit the ball. We were playing the Astros and all I knew was that I was playing beside Chipper Jones in a major league game. 

So that morning you were asking you’re AAA manager for a break and that night you were making a routine looking catch, look not so routine at Turner Field in a major league uniform. When you think about that day you must just shake your head in amazement!

It really was amazing. That whole day was crazy. When I got home I had like 300 text messages congratulating me on the call up. It’s funny though. The minor leagues are so stressful. You’re always hoping to get that call. I was finally able to relax and be myself.

So you’re headed on your first road trip and you’re coming home to your childhood team, the New York Mets. What is going through your head?

I’m just ecstatic. I don’t really know what to think. I just tried to soak it all up.

And your experience at Shea?

Unreal. I could not have asked for more. I was surrounded by my family and friends and playing ball in the major leagues.

Your season ends? What do you do? I went back to Mexico. I was a free agent and had couple of teams interested in me. I ended up getting picked up by the Yankees. That in itself was amazing. I was going to be able to wear pinstripes. I was a Mets fan growing up, but I wanted to play for the Yankees. They were the best. Who doesn’t want to play for the best?

And this past year with the Yankees?

I started out in AA and was promoted to AAA. I hit about .250. I had an average year. The Yankees are top notch organization. I don’t think I ever really felt comfortable. I think if I went back for a second year I’d be better off. I did get an opportunity to play with some of the best players in the major leagues.

What are your plans in the off-season?

Right now I’m a free agent. I still want to play baseball. I work out back here at home in New York. I had a dream as a young kid to be a baseball player. For 18 years I’ve been able to live out that dream. I consider myself lucky. Right now I’m just going to wait and see for what happens next.

Thank you so much for letting us take an inside look to your journey through the minor and major leagues. Best of luck.