TAMPA, Fla. — A year ago, the first spring morning at Pirate City featured Bryan Reynolds surrounded by a group of reporters wielding cameras and microphones, everyone asking the outfielder why he requested a trade and what he thought the future might hold for him in Pittsburgh.
This time around, Reynolds wore a microphone for the Pirates’ social media team, the process offering some fascinating insight into a player who’s clearly comfortable here after signing a $106.75 million contract extension last April, an important piece of the puzzle who’s showing more and more of his personality.
Although the past few weeks have been quiet for Reynolds — with the need for starting pitching, the return of Oneil Cruz, Paul Skenes’ dominance and what should be a very good bullpen all commanding more attention — perhaps that’s a good thing.
“It’s been way better and not as awkward,” Reynolds said of the difference a year has made. “It’s good. I’m glad all that [junk] is behind us. We’re here now, just looking to build.”
After finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting the season before the Pirates’ latest regime change, Reynolds is amazingly the team’s longest-tenured player.
As such, Reynolds has some solid perspective on what the Pirates have done and are continuing to work through, transitioning from learning and development to now believing they can compete.
“I don’t think the work has changed,” Reynolds said. “It’s not like we ever slacked off or anything. But I think the unsaid goal is different.”
Those aforementioned storylines will certainly determine a lot when it comes to whether the Pirates win or not. They need to finalize at least the final two spots in the rotation, Mitch Keller must return to a familiar form, and offseason additions Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez will play key roles.
Cruz’s ankle has been a non-factor. His plate discipline, swing decisions and power have been similarly impressive. In the bullpen, the Pirates are a David Bednar return away from touting one of the best groups in the National League.
In the middle of it all, of course, is Reynolds, whose dry humor can really be top notch.
Over the course of being mic’d up, Reynolds joked with outfielders coach Tarrik Brock about drills in the sun while showing off his new glove and sharing his kids’ observations of the moon. He and Joshua Palacios went back and forth about interacting with fans at Wrigley Field, Reynolds telling the story about a comeback he had to one in particular.
It’s a side of Reynolds those around the team see often ... but not necessarily stuff that has made it out publicly.
“It’s there, for sure,” Jack Suwinski said. “He’s a pretty funny guy once you get under a couple initial layers. ... I’m similar in some ways. It takes a little while to let that get out. But it’s been cool to get to know him and see that progress.”
More important than any of that, of course, Reynolds has his sights set on a better offensive year in 2024.
Reynolds talked at PiratesFest about wanting to see an OPS that starts with an eight. Pittsburgh could also use a slugging percentage from Reynolds that mirrors more of what he did in his All-Star season of 2021 (.522) versus where that number sat the past over the past two (.461).
“The general focus has been winning,” Reynolds said. “But if I can be a little more consistent, that’ll help us. Obviously not gonna be like I was at the beginning all year. But something of a blend.”
Reynolds opened 2023 in incredible fashion, hitting .448 with five homers and 13 RBIs over his first seven games. But next came a lull, with Reynolds hitting just .235 with four homers and 31 RBIs in the next 75.
Those months were certainly tough for Reynolds, who was slugging .393 on fastballs before a mid-July breakout against the Angels in Anaheim, a process that also saw him briefly introduce a different swing where he was more upright.
Over the final 63 contests, Reynolds found his stroke, hitting .273 with 15 homers and 40 RBIs (plus an .838 OPS) to close out what was ultimately a productive season, though also one where 29-year-old thought he probably could’ve done more.
“I’ve kind of always been that way,” Reynolds said. “If I can get super hot and keep it hot, keep it going for longer ...”
Reynolds didn’t finish his thought and didn’t need to. Everyone knows what the Pirates need from Reynolds.
Spring thus far has been quiet, with Reynolds hitting just .111 (3 for 27) before Friday’s night game in Tampa. On a positive note, all three of those hits landed over the fence.
But as Reynolds knows better than anyone around here, spring training results don’t matter. Neither do things like being mic’d up or joking with teammates.
It’s a results-oriented business. After several lean years, Reynolds believes the Pirates are finally capable of producing better ones.
“Maybe in the past few years, we’d come in and say winning was the goal,” Reynolds said. “But everybody kinda knew we probably weren’t gonna win. We were just trying to get better, really.
“I think this year it’s a probability instead of just a wish, working toward an expectation instead of a desire.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and @JMackeyPG on X.
First Published: March 15, 2024, 6:14 p.m.
Updated: March 15, 2024, 11:25 p.m.
