TAMPA, Fla.—Catching prospect Mike Reeves is looking forward to another season with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Playing competitive baseball at the age of seven, Reeves got into the game when he was four.
His brother Jeff, who played college ball at Winthrop University in South Carolina, taught him to catch after he “knocked out my first four front teeth,” Reeves told the Peterborough Examiner in 2013.
At Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Reeves currently ranks eighth in school history with 201hits, ninth in runs scored (119), and fourth in walks (107) in his four years.
Reeves, a catcher, believes also loves the acquisition of Russell Martin and believes the Jays have a good chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
“I am really excited this year for the Jays because not only do I play for them, I am one of the biggest fans,” Reeves said, sitting at a picnic table at the Bobby Mattick Training Complex. “I still root for them and I’m really happy they’ve got a good catcher and I think they’ve got a chance this year.”
Reeves, from Peterborough, Ont., was drafted in the 21st round by the Jays in 2013.
The Jays prospect played in 63 games last season where he had 43 hits and a .213 batting average for three different minor-league teams.
Reeves, 24, grew up watching Martin in high school. Inspired by the Canadian catcher,
Reeves also got the chance to meet up with Martin and catcher Dioner Navarro.
“I was over at big-league camp a couple of days ago and was helping those guys catch,” said Reeves. “Martin gave me a set of gear and Navarro hook me up with 10 bats.”
“They looked after me.”
Martin was traded to the Blue Jays this past off-season from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Surprisingly, Reeves studies Martin behind the plate more than Canadian’s swing.
“With the catching he is an amazing leader,” said Reeves. “The way he receives the ball he makes pitchers better.”
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