Reaves comes to the Wingnuts after spending five seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization, having last played with High-A Lakeland in 2016. His professional debut came in 2012 after the Tigers selected him in the 25th Round of the MLB Draft out of the University of Alabama. The Eastman, Georgia native hit .253 over those five seasons, with his best campaign coming at Class-A West Michigan in 2013. Reaves hit .271 that season with a career-best five home runs and 37 RBI.

Reaves began his college career at Southern Union Community College, where he hit better than .400 in each of his two seasons with the Bisons. That success carried over into his first season with Alabama, as Reaves immediately established himself as the Crimson Tide’s starting shortstop. In his first season in Tuscaloosa, Reaves hit .340 with 22 doubles, leading the team with 47 RBI. At the time, his 22 two-baggers ranked fourth all-time for single season doubles in program history. Reaves again started every game at shortstop for Alabama as a senior, hitting .316 and pacing the club with four home runs and 34 RBI.