This past September, World Baseball Network spoke to 24-year-old catcher Chris Reeder about his experiences playing in the MLB Draft League in 2024 for the Trenton Thunder. In 39 games, the righty hit .308 with one home run and a .778 OPS.
Reeder, an Allentown, New Jersey native, told WBN he was unsure where his next playing opportunity would come from but was thrilled to join The College of New Jersey coaching staff. Reeder didn’t lack confidence.
“The journey is definitely not finished,” Reeder told WBN in September. “I’m going to take this off-season to grow and improve in all aspects of my game as I prepare for another summer of playing. I don’t know where I will be team-wise, but I believe there will be another opportunity to continue my playing career.”
Reeder’s prediction was spot on. Last Wednesday, Indy Ball Jobs announced on Instagram that the catcher had agreed to a contract with the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League. This league is one of the four MLB Partner Leagues comprising 18 organizations– three in Canada and 15 in the United States.
“Signing with the Jackals is an incredible feeling filled with gratitude, excitement, and motivation…I am thankful and blessed for the Jackals to give me this opportunity. Baseball has been a huge part of my life, and getting another opportunity to step on the field and compete at a high level is something I don’t take for granted.”
“This game and this process has its ups and downs, but moments like this remind me why I fell in love with it in the first place. Getting this opportunity reassures me that all the hard work, the sacrifices, and the perseverance have been worth it.”
Reeder gained valuable playing experience in the MLB Draft League with the Thunder, the former Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees from 2003-20.
He won the MLB Draft League Player of the Week for his outstanding performance at the plate from July 1-7. Reeder went 9-for-14 (.643) with four runs scored and two RBI in five games. He’ll take what he learned in the MLB Draft League with him to the Jackals.
“Playing in the MLB Draft League was an invaluable experience that helped me grow both as a player and a competitor…One of the biggest lessons I learned was how to embrace the mental side of the game at a higher level. Baseball is a sport of failure, and in the Draft League, I had to learn how to stay confident and composed even when things didn’t go my way. When you’re playing six to seven games a week, you’ll get plenty of at-bats or opportunities in the field, so you have to have a short memory.”
It’s true. Baseball requires frequent lapses of memory. Sometimes, accepting failure and focusing on the next play is best.
“Good or bad, you always have to look forward to dominating that next pitch, next at-bat…In college, I was taught you have to take things one pitch, one out, one inning at a time, and that is the mantra I will always carry with me.
“Developing that resilience and ability to reset after a tough at-bat or rough game is something I’ll bring with me into the Frontier League.”
Reeder also learned that playing baseball for a living, no matter which league you are in, is a daily grind.
“Beyond that, I gained a deeper appreciation for the grind of professional baseball…The travel, the competition, the daily work– it all reinforced the importance of being disciplined and taking care of my body to perform at my best.”
The 2025 Frontier League season begins on Thursday, May 8. The Down East Bird Dawgs and the Mississippi Mud Monsters are two new additions to the league.
For the first time, the league will split into the Atlantic Conference and the Midwest Conference. The Atlantic Conference features the North and East Divisions, and the Midwest Conference features the Central and West Divisions.
On Friday, May 9, Reeder and the Jackals open the 2025 season at home at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey, against the defending champion Québec Capitales.
The final day of the Frontier League regular season is Sunday, Aug. 31. The Wild Card round starts on Wednesday, Sept. 3, and the potential game five of the championship series is on Sunday, Sept. 21.
