Bryan Reynolds saw that Jon Gray’s first two pitches were sliders, and saw them well enough that he anticipated a fastball would follow.
“Just sold out for a heater,” Reynolds said, “and I got it.”
When Reynolds homered in the first inning Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies, it was his seventh in the month of June. That was as many homers as the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder hit in all of 2020 — but only half of his total for this season.
And it was still nine shy of Kyle Schwarber’s monster month.
Schwarber’s stretch of 16 home runs in 18 games catapulted the Washington Nationals from last place in the NL East to within two games of the division lead. That could clinch NL player of the month honors for Schwarber, even though Reynolds is a deserving candidate.
Reynolds made his case by slashing .376/.442/.645 with four doubles, seven home runs, 22 RBIs and a dozen multi-hit games in June. He also is riding a 14-game hitting streak, during which he’s batted .436 (24 for 55) with three doubles, four homers and 14 RBIs.
For the season, Reynolds leads all major league outfielders in on-base percentage (.405), is tied for second in the NL in doubles (20), ranks third in batting average (.316), fourth in hits (87), total bases (149) and OPS (.947) and fifth in slugging percentage (.542). Reynolds also ranks in the top five in the majors in batting average, doubles and OPS.
No wonder Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Reynolds is having “an unbelievably good offensive year.”
“If you look at offensive WAR among outfielders,” Shelton said, “I would bet he’s in the top spot.”
Reynolds’ 3.6 WAR ranks first in the National League, and trails only Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins (4.0) among major league outfielders. Reynolds ranks ahead of Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr., the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts and Minnesota’s Bryon Buxton (all 2.6).
“That speaks to not only how well he’s played offensively, but to what he’s done defensively. He has really stabilized us defensively,” Shelton said of Reynolds shifting from left field to center. “The fact that he’s played well in both (spots) and understands, especially, how PNC (Park) plays. I think anybody (who) understands how PNC (Park) plays in left has an advantage on how it plays in center because of the cut.”
Where the Pirates are pushing Adam Frazier on social media to become the starting second baseman in the All-Star Game, Reynolds should be rewarded for his play. Although he’s not a candidate for a starting role, which will be announced at 9 p.m. Thursday, he might merit consideration when reserves are selected on Sunday.
“I believe so. He shows up every night and does something special. That’s the definition of an All-Star, I guess,” Frazier said. “He’s a really good player, and I’m happy to be on the same team as him. Definitely screams All-Star.”
If not, Reynolds has earned more than cursory consideration for NL player of the month. He hit 96 points higher than Schwarber, had an 80-point advantage in on-base percentage, with one more walk and 18 fewer strikeouts and provided the Pirates with a significant upgrade in center field.
The slugging numbers, however, are impossible to ignore — just as they were when Josh Bell slashed .390/.442/.797 with 12 doubles, 12 homers and 31 RBIs, with 93 total bases, in May 2019. Last month, San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. won NL honors after batting .353 with nine homers and 26 RBIs while slugging .824.
Bell is the last Pirates player to win NL player of the month honors.
Shelton credits Reynolds for keeping it simple, with both his swing and his approach to the plate. Shelton noted that Reynolds is not as worried about launch angle as he is with hitting the ball hard and making sure he’s in position to hit on time. That’s been the key for his bounce-back season, as Reynolds has returned to his rookie form. He slashed .314/.377/.503 in 2019 before scuffling at the plate last season.
“I don’t think he has to prove anything,” Shelton said. “He continues to have good at-bats. He continues to play well defensively. I don’t think there is anything else to prove.”
Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin by email at kgorman@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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