Meet the freshmen: Matt Reed battling Garrett Boulware for starting catcher spot

Matt Reed

6-1, 195, Catcher

Woodgrove HS, Purcellville, Va.

The Major League draft threw Clemson an expected curve when junior catcher Spencer Kieboom was drafted in the fifth round last June by the Washington Nationals. Kieboom signed, leaving coach Jack Leggett a bit thin in the catching department.

That will mean immediate opportunity for Matt Reed, who is currently battling sophomore Garrett Boulware for the Opening Day catching spot.

Boulware played mostly in the outfield as a freshman, while occasionally spelling Kieboom, who started 56 of 58 games.

Reed comes to Clemson from one of Virginia's top summer clubs, the Evoshield Canes. He earned Underclass High Honorable Mention All-America honors from Perfect Game, which in its scouting analysis said, "Hits from an open stance, has quick hands, plus-plus bat speed, good extension, ball jumps off bat, keeps hands inside ball, makes consistent solid contact, defensively, short arm action, strong arm with a quick release from both the OF and catching."

Reed impressed Clemson's coaches in the fall when he won the team's Omaha Challenge conditioning and skills competition among fielders.

Accomplishments

• First-team all-district as a senior

• Second-team all-region as a senior

• First-team all-district as a junior

• First-team all-district catcher as a sophomore

• Second-team all-region as a sophomore

• Second-team all-district outfielder as a freshman

• Lettered four times in baseball and two times in football

• Coached by Brad Bauder at Woodgrove High School

• Majoring in elementary education

• Born Matthew Isaac Reed on March 8, 1994 in Purcellville, VA