Carlson Reed Promoted Within Pirates Minor League System

WVU product Carlson Reed continues to move up the ranks within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Reed has been promoted to High A with the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Reed’s ascension through the minor leagues comes after being taken was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. The former Mountaineer signed with the Pirates for $600,000.

.@The_Marauders ➡️ @GSOHoppers

Carlson Reed has been promoted to High-A Greensboro! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ra1wMZWepW

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) August 4, 2024

So far in 2024, Reed has the second lowest ERA in the Florida State League at 2.43 and has 96 strikeouts in 77.2 innings.

Reed stands 6-foot-4 as a lanky flamethrower who logged a 2.61 ERA in 38 innings in his final season for WVU. A starting pitcher for his first two seasons, Reed found his greatest success after transitioning to the bullpen. Given a couple years to develop in the minors, the Pirates might like his starting upside.

MLB.com listed Reed as the No. 196 player on their Top 250 Draft Prospects List. The No. 104 pick, Reed’s signing bonus doubled the slot value of his projected pick.

At the time of being drafted by Pittsburgh, scouts speculated if the Pirates thought they were more familiar with Reed than other teams, as they had several chances to see Reed pitch up close. Morgantown is 70 minutes away, and he played two games in the Steel City—including at PNC Park in the Backyard Brawl—in 2023.