Memorial Pitching Prospect Hopes To Come Back For Playoffs

By Kyle Dierking, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- Jon Reed knows what it's like to be a pitching prospect with so much promise. It's thoughts of big league ball and big expectations that fill the heads of triumphant teenagers.

"I think it's every baseball players dream to go play pro out of high school, but it was something I really wanted to do if I had the chance to," Reed said.

That chance to play pro ball may have to be put on hold. The Memorial pitcher found out he had a calcium deposit in his throwing elbow back in February. He describes it as a dull pain and also says the injury has dropped his pitching velocity.

"The team around him has a lot of confidence when he's on the mound - having him in the lineup defensively, offensively - especially on the mound - is a big plus for us," said Memorial baseball coach Sandy Farrell.

But Reed's made the best of his senior season with his bat. He's been playing third base and is hitting around .400 with eight home runs this season.

"Scouts haven't been out watching him swing the bat but he's one of the best I've seen around, if not the best swinging the bat as well," Farrell said.

Plus his bat and minus his arm, The Chargers are a .500 baseball team. Memorial coach Sandy Farrell hopes his ace is back when post-season play begins against Enid next week.

"It could give us a little more depth and if (Reed's) able to come back and throw some inning's for us then it could give us a good boost," Farrell said.

As for playing pro ball, it's a wait and see game. He threw in a game for the first time last week and if the MLB Draft doesn't work out, he's signed to play collegiate baseball at Tennessee.

"He'll have a tough time with it just being so late," Farrell said. "If he can come back healthy here - the pro draft isn't until June - he's got a little bit of time that the pro scouts can follow him if they chose to do so."

Reed's not 100% sure if his pitching will ever be 100% again, but every day his bum elbow feels better puts hope in his heart.

"I just want to play ball - however or wherever I get taken is good enough for me," Reed said.

Get updates to Kyle's latest sports stories through Twitter. Click here to follow him.