- Full name Josh Reding
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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As a freshman pitcher in junior college, Reding caught the eye of former Expos area scout Mark Baca, who became even more impressed by Reding's overall athleticism when he moved to shortstop. He was named the South Atlantic League's best defensive shortstop in 1998, but the highlights have dwindled since then. He's still outstanding with the glove, as he has soft hands to go with above-average arm strength and range. He also has plus speed and the instincts to steal bases. But Reding's career .311 on-base percentage and .300 slugging percentage beg the question about whether he'll ever hit enough to play in the major leagues. He has a good balance and bat speed, but he lacks the strength to drive the ball and the selectivity to make consistent contact and get on base. At times he'll let a bad at-bat affect his play in the field. After a disastrous 2000 performance in Double-A, Reding should return there and try again this season.