Justin Reid

Paul Meyer profiles him for the PG.

Primarily a starter throughout the first four years of his minor-league career, Reid made quiet, steady progress through the system, reaching Nashville by the 2003 season.

He had a 3.02 ERA with Class A Hickory in 2000. He had a 2.25 ERA with Class A Lynchburg and a 2.54 ERA with Altoona in 2001. And he was 11-8 for Altoona in 2002.

His control was impeccable -- 14 walks in 110 innings with Altoona in 2001, for example.

And yet he was barely mentioned as a prospect because he was tagged as a soft thrower.

Which was interesting to Reid.

He came out of California-Davis in 1999 as the school's all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings (11.09). And he struck out 176 in 170 innings with Hickory in 2000.

"It's like saying a guy's not a home run hitter and he hits 30 home runs every year," Reid said.

Reid, 6 feet 5 and 225 pounds, perhaps finally broke through as a prospect last season with Nashville.

In 32 appearances, split equally between starting and relieving, he was 5-3 with two saves and a 3.96 ERA. In 122 2/3 innings, he allowed 112 hits, which includes 18 home runs, and 35 walks and struck out 121. He ranked second in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in strikeouts per nine innings (8.9).

If Reid can hit 30 home runs for us, that would be sweet.