Bryan Reynolds Returns to the Pirates After Short Absence
The
: have welcomed back outfielder Bryan Reynolds after a brief time away from the team.
Reynolds, who had been placed on the paternity list, missed three games, the maximum allowed by MLB for the birth of a child. He rejoined the Pirates for their series opener against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 17, starting in right field. Reynolds left the game before the second inning to be with his wife, Blair, as she went into labor with their third child. Alexander Canario replaced him in the lineup.
In the meantime, top prospect Billy Cook was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, and outfielder Jack Suwinski was added as the 27th man for the Pirates’ June 19 doubleheader against the Tigers. After the doubleheader, Suwinski was optioned back to Triple-A, and Cook was reassigned, with no longer having a locker in the Pirates’ clubhouse.
Reynolds has played in 71 of the Pirates’ 74 games this season. He was absent for three games: April 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals, May 18 against the Philadelphia Phillies, and May 25 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He has started 53 games in right field and 18 games as the designated hitter, after recovering from a teres major muscle strain that kept him out of the field for 14 straight games from March 31 to April 16.
Despite his return, Reynolds has struggled at the plate this season, posting a .222/.295/.360 slash line with a .655 OPS, 61 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 39 RBIs, and 28 walks to 81 strikeouts.
In contrast, Reynolds had a solid 2024 season, hitting .275/.344/.447 for an OPS of .791, with 171 hits, 29 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 57 walks over 156 games, earning his second All-Star selection.
His first All-Star nod came in 2021, when he posted a .302 batting average, 24 home runs, 90 RBIs, and a .912 OPS.
The Pirates’ outfielders now include Alexander Canario, Oneil Cruz, Adam Frazier, Andrew McCutchen, Tommy Pham, and Reynolds.
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