Fall Preview: Catcher Rei Coming Off Storybook Year
October 09, 2014 | Baseball
SEATTLE – At this time last year, Husky catcher Austin Rei (pronounced RYE) did not know where he stood in terms of playing time. The then-sophomore entered fall camp involved in a heated battle with senior Ryan Wiggins and fellow sophomore Parker Guinn to determine who would earn the lion-share of playing time behind the dish.
The competition continued after January and through the early part of the season. Rei was given plenty of opportunities to grab the bull by the horns and take the job, but he did little at the plate to distinguish himself from everybody else. He was hitting just .133 after seven games, before he finally heated up a little bit towards the end of non-conference play.
It was once Pac-12 play started that Rei took off and never looked back. He hit safely in each of the first 10 games of Conference action and by April 4 had his batting average up to .328. His defense was always solid, if not spectacular, but now with a hot bat, Rei was almost irreplaceable in the Huskies lineup.
“I knew I had it in me; it was just whether I could do it on a consistent basis,” Rei recalled about his early struggles to get on track last season. “Once I started getting consistent starts, I was more comfortable and I don't think that is a coincidence that my batting average jumped from there.”
Rei ended up never giving up his spot behind the plate. He started all 30 Pac-12 games for the Huskies, hitting .367 in Conference action, third among all qualified batters. He also ranked fifth in slugging percentage (.510) and was fourth in both RBI (22) and on-base percentage (.452).
“Last year was kind of a career year for me,” Rei said. “I didn't have expectations going in, but I knew my goal was to get the starting job and not let go.
“I accomplished that in my opinion.”
Rei's play earned him first-team All-Pac-12 honors at the end of the season. He is the first Husky catcher since Dominic Woody in 1999 to earn first-team honors and just the sixth overall in UW's storied history. While he is pleased with the honor, Rei is also humbled by the recognition.
“I consider it more of an honor, privilege, and responsibility,” Rei said on the pressures of being a returning all-conference member. “As the catcher I see the entire field and I am responsible for knowing where everyone is supposed to be, taking charge of everyone and keeping the pitching staff where they need to be to be successful. On the offensive side I feel like I have more of a role to contribute, considering that the number two, three, four and nine hitters are now gone.
“I feel like it is a time for me to step up and be a leader on and off of the field.”
Part of Rei's responsibility of being a leader will be that he has to help groom his backup. Behind Rei, the Huskies have zero catchers with Division I playing experience. Austin Henning was on the squad last season, but did not play. Sophomore Zach Bonneau was at Palomar College in San Diego last season, while freshmen Joey Morgan and Andy Cosgrove were completing their high school careers.
Rei is more than willing to show the new guys the ropes, but he is also realistic that any of the four guys behind him could more than capably fill in if his own play slipped this season.
“My goal is to keep pushing myself as much as I can and to not let off the gas,” Rei said. “These guys are here for a reason and they can absolutely do the job. It's my job to push myself and to push them as well. I need to show them what it takes to be a Pac-12 catcher and what it takes to be a leader of this team. I want to show them what Husky Baseball is all about.”
What Rei envisions Husky Baseball to be about is to be a regular threat for Pac-12 titles and trips to the NCAA Championships in Omaha. Last season, when the Huskies finished with 41 wins and were second in the Pac-12, it showed Rei that his team is ready to start an upward trend.
“It was a fun year to be a part of and I have some goals in mind, like getting back to the post season,” said Rei. “I think it would be great if we could host here, even though it was great getting to Ole Miss. I think our team and this University deserves the chance to host a regional.”
The Huskies will rely on the same formula they used last year to try to repeat their success: good pitching and defense, plus timely hitting. As a catcher, Rei has the unique responsibility of being able to contribute in all three phases of that formula. Besides his excellent hitting, he was stellar behind the plate throwing out 14-of-33 would-be stealers, all while handling a pitching staff that posted a 3.11 ERA.
Washington lost a school-record eight players to the Major League Draft from last season, including three pitchers, but Rei still sees a lot of talented arms on the team ready to help the Huskies succeed.
“We lost a Friday guy, a Sunday guy and three relievers and people expect us to be in a huge hole, but we have Tyler Davis coming back, who was a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist, and Josh Fredendall coming back from injury,” said Rei. “We have a lot of good leadership down there, and our young guys are doing well working with J.K. (pitching coach Jason Kelly) and acknowledging what it really means to throw strike one and to throw consistently in the zone.
“So far, I don't see too much of a letdown from losing that many guys. Our guys look like they are getting in pretty good shape for this season.”
Rei looks like he's in pretty good shape himself. He cut short his stint in summer ball for the LaCrosse Loggers of the Northwoods League after he felt himself get worn down due to 10-straight months of playing baseball. He returned to Seattle, rested his body for a bit and got completely healthy.
Rei is now rejuvenated and ready to help his team out this year. If he puts up similar numbers as to what he showed last year, Rei is certain to draw interest in the Major League Draft. With catchers being at a premium, Rei could hear his name called during the early stages of the draft. That certainly provides extra motivation for him this season, but it is not his sole motivation.
“You approach the season the same way every year,” said Rei, who was selected in the 38th round of the 2012 draft by Minnesota. “You want to get yourself in the best shape possible to put your team in the best position to make the post season.
“With that being said I am not avoiding the fact that this could be a big year for me. I got drafted out of high school so I figure after three years of college I could be drafted even higher.
“I do know this; this year is a big year for me and for the team. We have a chance to show the Pac-12 and the nation that even though we lost a lot of good talent, it doesn't mean that we don't have the power to make another run at it.”
That sounds like a win-win situation for both Rei and the Huskies.
The Huskies will culminate fall camp with the Purple and Gold World Series, Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 20-22, at Husky Ballpark.
