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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.
More must-reads:
- Dream (but realistic) trade targets for every MLB team this offseason
- Three offseason trade targets for Blue Jays to add an impact bat
- The 'World Series single-game K leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
D-backs Pitcher Enters Free Agency
As the World Series comes to a conclusion, the MLB offseason officially commences. That means three of the Arizona Diamondbacks pending free agents have officially entered free agency, One such free agent is left-hander Jalen Beeks. Beeks, alongside former ace Zac Gallen and veteran backup catcher James McCann, were listed among the 137 players hitting free agency, in a statement released by the MLB Players' Association. For more on Gallen's free agency, check out the below article: Related Content: Zac Gallen Takes First Free Agency Step The D-backs are among the teams with the lower free agent departure totals. With the five-day "quiet period" following the World Series, teams will have the option to re-sign their own players without competition. Unlike Gallen, Beeks is an arm that seems like a much more reasonable re-sign for Arizona. Arizona Diamondbacks' Jalen Beeks Enters Free Agency The 32-year-old veteran left-hander was a last-second pickup for GM Mike Hazen and the D-backs, joining the team just prior to Opening Day. He quickly became one of the few arms trusted to take on a workhorse load out of the bullpen, as Arizona's relief corps suffered injury after injury. And he certainly did take a large share of the innings. Beeks tossed 57.1 innings, and likely would have been used even more if not for an IL stint (followed by careful usage) in the latter third of the regular season. Still, the lefty posted a solid 3.77 ERA, inflated somewhat by a few blowup outings. He's also had generally solid, if not eye-popping peripheral metrics, even during some of his uglier ERA seasons. Finding quality left-handed relief pitching is no easy feat. Considering Beeks made only $1.25 million with Arizona in 2025, even a slight increase in that amount would likely be money well spent. Related Content: Diamondbacks Have to Address This Bullpen Need Again The Diamondbacks already face an uphill battle with regard to bolstering their bullpen and starting rotation. An in-house option with a history of stability would be a beneficial return, even if regression is a distinct possibility. Regardless, the Diamondbacks absolutely must make an attempt at acquiring a closer (as well as another legitimate leverage arm) if they want to weather the storm before Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk return. Beeks does not necessarily fill that type of role, but he does have leverage experience, and would likely perform well in a middle-relief role without the pressure of having to serve as the setup man or closer in 2026. Related Content: Should the Diamondbacks Bring Back this Veteran Reliever? Arizona Diamondbacks Latest News
Did Micah Parsons take jab at the Packers offense?
The Green Bay Packers' decision to trade for Micah Parsons was undeniably a good one. They already had an up-and-coming defense and a stacked offense, and adding a superstar pass-rusher who had yet to reach his physical prime was a no-brainer. However, as great a player as Parsons is, he's also drawn some negative attention for running his mouth a little. It took him nine weeks, but he may have finally given the Packers a taste of that. Micah Parsons takes a subtle jab at the Packers Following the shocking 16-13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, Parsons pointed out that the defense did a good job of limiting Dave Canales' team. "He threw for 100 yards," Parsons said in the locker room, per Packers beat writer Ryan Wood. “If we lose a game like that in the NFL, we just didn’t play good. Not too many quarterbacks are throwing for 100 yards and winning.” The underlying message there is that someone else didn't do a good job, whether it's head coach Matt LaFleur, who called an over-conservative game again, the offense, Jordan Love, or all of the above. Parsons and the Packers defense held the Panthers to 265 total yards. They picked Bryce Young off once and sacked him once for a loss of eight yards, so he does have a valid point. Then again, given his history of stirring the pot during his days with the Dallas Cowboys, it's hard not to be worried about the toll this might take on his relationship with the organization.
Vikings snap count analysis and notable PFF grades from win over Lions
The Vikings got key contributions from all three phases in a 27-24 upset win over the Lions on Sunday at Ford Field. Let's dive into the week's snap counts and take a look at some notable PFF grades to see what stands out. Vikings offensive snap counts vs. Lions (out of 62) LG Donovan Jackson: 62 RG Will Fries: 62 RT Brian O'Neill: 62 LT Christian Darrisaw: 62 C Blake Brandel: 62 QB J.J. McCarthy: 62 WR Justin Jefferson: 59 WR Jordan Addison: 57 TE T.J. Hockenson: 48 RB Jordan Mason: 37 WR Jalen Nailor: 33 TE Nick Vannett: 27 RB Aaron Jones: 26 TE Ben Yurosek: 17 WR Adam Thielen: 4 OL Joe Huber: 2 It was encouraging to see the Vikings' entire offensive line, including Darrisaw and O'Neill, stay healthy throughout 60-plus snaps. At running back, Jones was excellent in the first half and would've comfortably out-snapped Mason on the day if he hadn't left early in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. Initial reports are that Jones avoided a serious injury and has a chance to play next Sunday against Baltimore. Without Josh Oliver or C.J. Ham, the Vikings turned to Vannett and Yurosek as extra run blockers, and both put in solid performances. Four offensive snaps is a season-low for Thielen, who has played just 24 total over the past three games. Top 5 PFF grades on offense (min. 20 snaps) 1. Jones — 76.6 2. Jefferson — 72.8 3. Brandel — 68.0 4. Jackson — 67.4 5. Darrisaw — 65.7 This checks out. The Vikings' offensive line played well, and Jones and Jefferson were the top two weapons for J.J. McCarthy. Speaking of McCarthy, he just missed this list with a 63.5 grade, which feels pretty fair for how he played. Addison and Hockenson are right behind him, grade-wise. Low grades on the day went to Mason and Fries, but both were still above 55. Vikings defensive snap counts vs. Lions (out of 64) LB Blake Cashman: 64 S Josh Metellus: 64 CB Byron Murphy Jr: 64 S Harrison Smith: 64 OLB Jonathan Greenard: 62 CB Isaiah Rodgers: 61 DT Jalen Redmond: 58 LB Eric Wilson: 56 DT Jonathan Allen: 51 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel: 39 DT Javon Hargrave: 39 CB Fabian Moreau: 24 S Theo Jackson: 16 OLB Dallas Turner: 14 LB Ivan Pace Jr: 13 DT Levi Drake Rodriguez: 11 DT Elijah Williams: 4 This was quite the game for Brian Flores and the Vikings' defense, who made things tough on an elite Lions offense for most of the day. From a snap count perspective, the first thing that jumps out is Redmond playing 91 percent of the snaps. He's legitimately established himself as the best defensive tackle on a team that employs former Pro Bowlers in Allen and Hargrave. Cashman and Wilson were outstanding in this game. Allen made an impact. Hargrave was excellent. And the importance of Van Ginkel simply cannot be overstated. He changes everything. He was limited to playing 61 percent of the snaps in his return to action, but that number figures to rise next week. Van Ginkel's return coincided with Turner playing a season-low 14 snaps. It'll be interesting to see if that continues moving forward. Pace is merely a role player behind the Vikings' top two linebackers at this point, but he can still be effective when used as a blitzer. Stepping into the CB3 role in place of Jeff Okudah wasn't Dwight McGlothern, it was the veteran Moreau, who played well. Top 5 PFF grades on defense (min. 20 snaps) 1. Cashman — 90.8 2. Hargrave — 81.4 3. Van Ginkel — 75.1 4. Moreau — 73.4 5. Smith — 67.4 Cashman was simply fantastic in this game, whether it was in run defense or coverage or as a blitzer on the Vikings' many designed pressure looks with their off-ball linebackers. Hargrave and Van Ginkel were also instrumental in Minnesota's run defense. Moreau and Smith tackled well and were important in coverage. Wilson got dinged a bit for some missed tackles and ended up with a 63.5 grade, but when you watch the tape, he was absolutely everywhere. He had six pressures and two sacks, and even when he missed tackles, the fact that he arrived at the play so quickly helped lead to tackles for teammates. He looked like a star in this game. Lower grades on defense went to Redmond, Rodgers, Murphy, and Theo Jackson.
3 Depressing Realizations From Green Bay Packers Crushing Loss Against Carolina
The Green Bay Packers continue to frustrate fans by failing to play up to their lofty standards. For a team that has impressed during most of this 2025 season, what was supposed to be an exciting return home to Lambeau Field against the Carolina Panthers quickly soured into a very gloomy afternoon. Here are three key takeaways from the Packers’ first home loss of the year. #1: Dismal Red Zone Play Dooms Green Bay Packers Offense Entering Sunday, Green Bay had a 70% TD rate when entering the red zone, one of the highest marks in the league. Quarterback Jordan Love was in the upper tier of passers in red zone completion percentage. However, against Carolina, the team went just 1 for 5. In the first half, a Savion Williams red zone fumble started the day off on the wrong foot. Later, Jordan Love threw multiple incompletions and Matt LaFleur chose to kick a field goal on 4th 6 at the Carolina 8 yard line. The 8 yard line was a site of issues for the Packers in the 4th quarter as well. On 3rd 3, Emanuel Wilson got the ball and ran for -5 yards on what was a massive play in the game. Down 13-6, the Packers then turned it over on downs on the ensuing 4th 8. While part of the issues were obviously execution-related, the play-calling can also be questioned. As much as LaFleur has the reputation of an elite play-designer, his situational play-calling and play-call sequencing continues to feel like it needs improvement. 10 points on 5 red zone trips is absolutely abysmal. This kind of outing is what makes one of the more talented squads in the NFL a beatable team. #2: Defensive Line Takes a Step Back Although they only gave up 16 points, the defense did not have a good day. QB Bryce Young barely passed for 100 yards, but the Panthers averaged 5 yards per carry on their way to 163 rushing yards. Lead back Rico Dowdle specifically averaged 5.2 yards a carry on 25 totes, scoring both Panthers touchdowns. Carolina is one of the better running teams in the NFL, but the Packers still routinely failed to get the stops they needed in critical running situations. The Packers gave up 11 rushing first downs and were consistently getting pushed back at the line of scrimmage. While the overall unit played below par, it was Micah Parsons who had a truly poor day. While also being culpable in an underwhelming day against the run, Parsons failed to impact the game as a pass rusher and was locked down by Panthers tackle Icky Ekwonu. #0 failed to record a single pressure in the game, something he has never done before. The team once again had 0 sack yards, as the lone QB takedown by Xavier McKinney netted 0 yards. The issues in the secondary are well documented, the defensive line not carrying their weight is even more concerning. #3: Tucker Kraft-Sized Hole Means It’s Now or Never For Young Skill Position Players Arguably more depressing than the loss itself was the fact that star TE Tucker Kraft when down with a serious knee injury that, the following day, was declared to be an ACL tear. Kraft was on his way to an All-Pro season and now is going to be missing the rest of the season. With 489 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns on the year, Kraft led the team in both categories. At the tight end spot, Luke Musgrave is obviously going to have to step up in a major way. He has shown the ability to be a weapon, particularly in 2023 during his rookie season, but now he is going to have to level up his game even more. More realistically, it will be the young wide receivers who are going to need to pick up the slack for Kraft. Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, both of whom had forgettable afternoons on Sunday, are going to have to grow up fast if the Packers are going to continue being a Super Bowl threat. With Golden in particular, much of his hype so far this season has been about how he has been a good separator, or near-miss highlights of what could have been. It’s now time for him to actually produce like a first-round receiver. Golden’s fellow first-rounders Tetairoa McMillan and Emeka Egbuka have had no issues producing as primary options on their respective teams. While it wasn’t fair to compare Golden’s situation to theirs, Green Bay is now in a situation where they need a player of Golden’s caliber to rise to the occasion and help Christian Watson be a focal point of the passing attack.
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