by Steve Mims
Reed Kellum is used to juggling sports.
In high school, he split his spring between the baseball and track teams at Jackson (Miss.) Prep.
“I would compete in a track meet and then turn around and go play a baseball game,” said Kellum, who won three state titles in baseball and specialized in hurdles and long jump in track and field. “I would go to track practice and then run over to baseball. I think it helped me to stay real athletic. As a catcher, there is value to having athleticism and track helped me keep my speed and agility so that also helped with football.”
Yeah, Kellum also starred as a linebacker, receiver and tight end in football all the way into college. He played two seasons of baseball at Hinds Community College while also playing linebacker on the football team as a freshman.
“In my senior year of high school, I was really working to play football in college,” he said. “Then I had a knee injury and realized my future was better off in baseball. I enjoyed football a lot and enjoyed playing both sports and tried to pursue both until I needed to choose one. It was really tough, but it was the best for me to craft my game.”
Kellum had a few college offers before moving on to Tulane, located just a couple hours from his hometown. With two veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, Kellum has appeared in 12 games this spring.
“I have learned a lot, having two upperclassmen catchers has helped,” Kellum said. “I’ve had a few opportunities this year, but our season has been up and down so there has not been a lot of room to give first-year players as much of a chance, especially when the starting catcher is a team captain who is having a great year. It put me in a tight spot to not get as many at-bats, but the plan for me this summer is to play as much as I can and put up some numbers.”
Kellum has two years of eligibility remaining with the Green Wave, who are coached by former University of Oregon assistant Jay Uhlman. It was Uhlman who helped Kellum land a spot with the Springfield Drifters this summer.
The Drifters begin their second season in the West Coast League, a college-wood bat circuit, at beautiful Hamlin Field on June 2 against Port Angeles. Tickets for all 30 home games this summer are on sale now.
“I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to it,” Kellum said. “We played a game at Washington this year, so I got to the Pacific Northwest but I’ve never been to Oregon. I have been to California a few times and really enjoy the West Coast.”
When Kellum returns to Tulane in the fall, he will begin an accelerated Masters Program after earning a degree in Computer Science.
“I have always had an interest in that,” he said. “In high school I was really into it and I worked for a tech company, helping them design a video game for a hospital. Hopefully that will lead me to owning a tech firm one day.”