San Diego Padres: Buddy Reed Wins MVP Honors At Fall Stars Game

One certain San Diego Padres prospect can’t seem to get enough of the national spotlight.

Buddy Reed seems to love the national spotlight. After winning over fans at the MLB Futures Game, the San Diego Padres outfield prospect commanded your attention, once again, at the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game.

After entering the game as a pinch-hitter, Reed struck out in his first two at-bats, seeming to match exactly what the broadcast team on MLB Network was discussing, concerning Reed’s future in baseball. Described as an energetic and premier clubhouse presence, Jim Callis noted Reed’s long arms and resulting long swing and inability to produce base-hits consistently.  If he can flip the switch and hit for a higher average at the higher levels of the minors, Reed can be a regular major league outfielder, per Callis.

With his team down by one in the bottom of the 9th and facing a 3-2 count with two outs, Reed reached low and drove this 98 mph fastball to the wall, resulting in a game-tying triple, scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

In the very next at-bat, Kansas City Royals prospect Meibrys Viloria singled to center field, scoring Buddy Reed and securing a 7-6 victory for the West squad.

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Thanks to his late game heroics, Reed was named the Fall Stars Game Most Valuable Player. He joins a pretty iconic list of players to win this award including Ronald Acuna, Gleyber Torres, Kris Bryant, and Nolan Arenado.

Buddy Reed wasn’t the only San Diego Padres prospect to shine.

Joining the outfielder in Arizona was starting pitcher Miguel Diaz, who is having a fantastic season in the AFL. Diaz entered the game in the fourth inning and tossed a scoreless frame, giving up one hit, a single, to Monte Harrison.

His highlight came against New York Mets prospect Peter Alonso. Alonso homered in his first at-bat, a shot to center field off a 103-mph fastball from Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Nate Pearson. Diaz attacked Alonso with three-straight sliders, getting him to whiff on each one.

It was a highly positive night for both prospects who will look to continue their dominant AFL runs over the final few weeks of the regular season.