Bryan Reynolds Always Seems Stuck in The Shadows

Bryan Reynolds made his major-league debut on April 20, 2019, and was virtually ignored in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ clubhouse that day

All the focus was on Cole Tucker, who was called up along with Reynolds from Triple-A Indianapolis also to make his big-league debut. All the fuss was about the gregarious Tucker, the Pirates’ first-round draft pick in 2016.

Reynolds was acquired from the San Francisco in a trade before the 2018 season for popular outfielder Andrew McCutchen and was a relative unknown despite being considered one of the Giants’ top prospects.

Tucker also stole the headlines during the game. His two-run home run lifted the Pirates to a 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park in a game shortened to five innings by rain.

On Tuesday night, Reynolds will participate in the second All-Star Game of his career at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. He will be one of two Pirates on the National League team with rookie pitcher Paul Skenes.

Again, Reynolds will be overlooked.

All eyes will be on Skenes, who will start for the National League after making just 11 major-league starts. Major League Baseball is making the 22-year-old phenom the focus of this Midsummer Classic.

Reynolds will again play second fiddle and that’s a shame. The 29-year-old outfielder should be celebrated for what he has accomplished this season.

Reynolds has earned his spot on the NL roster by hitting .284/.347/.487 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs in 96 games.

The statistic that most encapsulates Reynolds is the games played. He has started every game for the Pirates this season. That is the longest streak by a Pirates player to start a season since Jason Bay played in 118 games in a row in 2016.

Reynolds’ greatest attribute is his reliability. The Pirates know what they will get daily, a big reason why they signed him to an eight-year, $ 106-million contract  — the largest in franchise history — in the 2022 season.

Reynolds has produced well above major-league average year in and year except for the aberrational 2020 season that was delayed by the pandemic. He hit just .189/.275/.357 in isolation over 55 games.

However, Reynolds OPS+ — any number over 100 indicates how much a hitter has produced over the MLB average by percentage – has been 130, 145, 127, 112 and 132 in “normal” seasons.

“He belongs in the conversation when you’re talking about the best players in the game, and I think he’s proven that,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.

The metronomic reliability to be in the lineup every day and consistently produce is at least partially a function of Reynolds’ personality.

Every baseball player talks about the importance of not getting too high or too low during a 162-game season. Few succeed at it. Reynolds lives it.

It is hard to find anyone more even-keeled. He doesn’t wildly celebrate home runs with bat flips or fist pumps or throw his bat and helmet when he strikes out. Reynolds may occasionally have a word for an umpire but usually does so quietly.

Reynolds is the same way with the media. He’s cordial with his deep Southern drawl and has a wry sense of humor. However, Reynolds’ next memorable quote will be his first.

The only time Reynolds created a stir came before the 2022 Winter Meetings when he requested that the Pirates trade him. The trade request wasn’t his idea but his agent’s ploy to get negotiations on a long-term contract moving.

Reynolds was almost apologetic about the situation the first time he met with the media following the request on the first day of spring training in 2023.

It is weird to even think of Reynolds being in another uniform now. His value to the Pirates is clear. That is why he will be in Arlington on Tuesday night – even if people don’t notice.