Brewers player a "forgotten man," but he's still helping the team

MILWAUKEE (WITI) - If you are a hardcore Milwaukee Brewers fan, you may remember an outfielder named Jeremy Reed -- but if he has his way, you will see his impact on the diamond at Miller Park in a different way in the future.

2011 was a big year for the Milwaukee Brewers. Ron Roenicke took over as manager, Zack Greinke solidified the starting rotation, Tony Plush captured the fans' imagination, Ryan Braun was the National League's Most Valuable Player, the team made it to the National League Championship Series, and Jeremy Reed went 0-7.

The brief stint with the Brew Crew helped put Reed in position to become Milwaukee's Minor League hitting coordinator this year.

"Being with this staff, the majority of the staff was here when I was here, and having Ron as the manager -- just grinding out at-bats, that's the kind of player I was, and being able to do that for this staff and then come and be a part of them is pretty neat," Reed said.

The fact that he was once a very high draft choice and only recently a bottom of the roster player gives Reed a credibility with Brewers prospects.

"I felt so recently what it feels like to fail, what it feels like to succeed and what it feels like to be in the wrong position, at times, at the plate and whatnot. Being able to help them based on what I've gone through, I think there is some quality to that, and hopefully I can just pass that on," Reed said.

The Brewers field seven minor league teams, including the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The vast majority of the guys who are currently playing for those teams will never become Major League stars or even Major Leaguers, but getting to the show shouldn't be a pipe dream for them, or any of the college, high school and youth players who pull on a uniform.

"You just never know when somebody is going to develop. Development for some kids is later. Sometimes it's early, so you never know. You just gotta keep playing hard and keep grinding it out," Reed said.

Just as a grounds crew has to tend the field so it is at its best for a Major League baseball game, instructors in an organization need to tend to a player's development so that they can be their best if they ever get here.

"It's consistency. A lot of those kids have the talent to be able to play here, but not consistently play here. The more times that we can get these guys to understand what it's like to be on time and be consistent in what they're doing -- the better chance they have to get up here," Reed said.

Ryan Braun, Yovani Gallardo and Jonathan Lucroy all came up through Milwaukee's minor league system.

Now, Jeremy Reed is trying to help produce the next Brewers Big Leaguer.