Reed stuck on baseball seesaw

Jeremy Reed admits it: He's fighting for his major league life.

The seven-year professional baseball veteran is just 29. Yet he can't crack the Toronto Blue Jays' outfield.

He's back at Triple A for the second time this season with the 51s, and he's hoping he can do enough good things at the plate and in the field this go-round to either return to Toronto or land on someone else's roster.

"It's very tough emotionally," Reed said Tuesday at Cashman Field before going 1-for-2 with three walks and scoring three times in Las Vegas' 12-10 win over the Sacramento River Cats.

"This happened quite a few times late in my stay with Seattle. But when it happens later in your career, it makes it a little harder to take."

A career .253 hitter in the majors, Reed hoped the Blue Jays would give him a chance to play after he spent 2009 with the Mets. He batted .242 in 126 games for New York while playing all three outfield positions and first base.

But with the Mets acquiring Jason Bay and figuring they'd get Carlos Beltran back at some point, Reed became expendable. He signed with Toronto, was invited to spring training as a nonroster player and nearly made the Blue Jays.

He started the season with the 51s, got called up early in the year, went back to Las Vegas three days later and was recalled by Toronto on May 19.

However, Reed was used sparingly and was once again optioned to the 51s on Saturday. He is batting .264 in 34 games with Las Vegas this season.

"I've tried to stay professional," Reed said. "I'd love to play every day. I'd love to get 600 at-bats. But I just wanted to be there and help wherever I could.

"They're way committed to their outfield. But I've learned how to deal with failure."

Reed said Triple A can be difficult for somebody in his position.

"Triple A is the hardest level." he said. "You've got guys here who are big leaguers who are frustrated. You've got young guys who are hungry and guys in between who've never gotten a shot at the majors. I'm just trying to come here and compete. But even here the at-bats seem sparse so far.

"All you can do is be professional, do your job the best you can and hope someone notices."

The one-time Long Beach State star is convinced he still has something to offer a major league team.

"I'm 29. I feel I've got some baseball left in me," Reed said. "How you handle a situation as a whole determines what kind of person you are. I never took the game for granted and I've always tried to respect the game.

"But you get to a point where you have to start being a little selfish and think about your family. I've looked at it more and more as this is about my family and their future.

"I only have so much time, so I want to do what I can to stay in the game."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.