June 27, 2005

Former University of San Diego star Kevin Reese made his Major League Baseball debut on June 26, as the New York Yankees hosted the New York Mets on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Reese batted .361 from 1997-2000 at USD, totaling more hits (279) than any other player in Torero history. Reese started in leftfield Sunday, drawing a walk in his first big-league at-bat and finished the night 0-1 before Bernie Williams pinch-hit for him in the seventh inning.

As reported by MLB.com...
Reese, 27, was batting .272 (83-for-305) with 22 doubles, 8 HR, 37 RBI and 51 runs scored in 73 games with Columbus this season (60 starts in LF, 3 starts in CF, 7 starts as DH). Before being called up to New York, he was tied for second in the International League in doubles and ranked fifth among IL hitters in runs scored. Prior to having his contract purchased, he had a season-high 13-game hitting streak and was batting .370 (20-for-54) in those 13 games since June 10. From April 7-28, he reached base safely in 21 consecutive games, the longest such streak by a Clipper this year.

In 2004, Reese recorded 50 doubles (37 with Double-A Trenton and 13 with Columbus), the most by any Yankee minor-leaguer and was named to the Eastern League All-Star Team. He was acquired by the Yankees from the San Diego Padres on December 18, 2001 for second baseman Bernabel Castro. The San Diego, CA native was originally selected by the Padres in the 27th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft.