Extra Bases: Reynolds' 'mental work' paying dividends
Bryan Reynolds is starting to look like himself at the plate and he credits pregame "mental work" he's done recently.
He went 3 for 5 tonight with a double and two RBIs, providing the Pirates' offense with a spark in the team's 5-0 win over the Padres at Petco Park. Here's that double off Yuki Matsui, scoring Oneil Cruz in the seventh inning:
Reynolds said his improvements have centered around pre-game cage work and simplifying his thoughts. He declined to go into details on the mental part but shared its significance.
"I think it’s a really important part of the game that doesn’t get talked about enough," Reynolds said. "So, I think it’s something that everybody can benefit from and I’m going to try and keep it part of my routine."
Three weeks ago, Reynolds was amid a slump that saw him go 0 for 21 during a five-game stretch. He's since turned it around and is hitting .388/.456/.633 with a 1.089 OPS over the last 15 days to go with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 49 at-bats.
• Bailey Falter pitched another gem, recording his fourth quality start out of the five he made in May, as he threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one. He induced 10 groundouts and three flyouts, finishing the month with a 0.76 ERA.
"He's been unbelievable," Don Kelly said. "Just the way he’s pounded the strikezone, found ways to get ahead there, used his fastball in and out, mixed in slider, changeup. He’s pitching really well."
Falter gave up three earned runs and 17 hits all month, as he's trusted his defense while going after hitters. He's done that primarily with his fastball and mixes in his breaking stuff, but Falter said his changeup is what's sticking out to to him. He threw it seven times and it drew three swings. It was fouled off twice and put in play once. It's a pitch he's thrown 5.2% of the time but he's continuing to develop it with Oscar Marin and Brent Strom.
"I know a lot of these guys, opposing teams, know that I don't really throw it too much," Falter said. "I never really had a changeup. But, the more I've been working on it with Oscar and Strom -- I know Strom loves it, he tells me all the time -- but I think that's the difference maker right now."
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa keeps producing at the bottom of the Pirates' lineup. He went 2 for 3 with a double and is hitting .365 with five RBIs over his last 15 games. Kiner-Falefa hit toward the top of the order after being acquired at the trade deadline last season but has stayed near the bottom of the order this year. He's hit regardless of his spot in the lineup, but I asked Kelly if it was getting difficult to leave him at the bottom with the success he's having:
"It is and he’s doing a great job down there, turning the lineup over for the guys at the top," Kelly said. "He’s been so consistent for us all year and he’s doing a heck of a job."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
8:05 am - 06.01.2025SAN DIEGOExtra Bases: Reynolds' 'mental work' paying dividends
Bryan Reynolds is starting to look like himself at the plate and he credits pregame "mental work" he's done recently.
He went 3 for 5 tonight with a double and two RBIs, providing the Pirates' offense with a spark in the team's 5-0 win over the Padres at Petco Park. Here's that double off Yuki Matsui, scoring Oneil Cruz in the seventh inning:
Reynolds said his improvements have centered around pre-game cage work and simplifying his thoughts. He declined to go into details on the mental part but shared its significance.
"I think it’s a really important part of the game that doesn’t get talked about enough," Reynolds said. "So, I think it’s something that everybody can benefit from and I’m going to try and keep it part of my routine."
Three weeks ago, Reynolds was amid a slump that saw him go 0 for 21 during a five-game stretch. He's since turned it around and is hitting .388/.456/.633 with a 1.089 OPS over the last 15 days to go with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 49 at-bats.
• Bailey Falter pitched another gem, recording his fourth quality start out of the five he made in May, as he threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one. He induced 10 groundouts and three flyouts, finishing the month with a 0.76 ERA.
"He's been unbelievable," Don Kelly said. "Just the way he’s pounded the strikezone, found ways to get ahead there, used his fastball in and out, mixed in slider, changeup. He’s pitching really well."
Falter gave up three earned runs and 17 hits all month, as he's trusted his defense while going after hitters. He's done that primarily with his fastball and mixes in his breaking stuff, but Falter said his changeup is what's sticking out to to him. He threw it seven times and it drew three swings. It was fouled off twice and put in play once. It's a pitch he's thrown 5.2% of the time but he's continuing to develop it with Oscar Marin and Brent Strom.
"I know a lot of these guys, opposing teams, know that I don't really throw it too much," Falter said. "I never really had a changeup. But, the more I've been working on it with Oscar and Strom -- I know Strom loves it, he tells me all the time -- but I think that's the difference maker right now."
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa keeps producing at the bottom of the Pirates' lineup. He went 2 for 3 with a double and is hitting .365 with five RBIs over his last 15 games. Kiner-Falefa hit toward the top of the order after being acquired at the trade deadline last season but has stayed near the bottom of the order this year. He's hit regardless of his spot in the lineup, but I asked Kelly if it was getting difficult to leave him at the bottom with the success he's having:
"It is and he’s doing a great job down there, turning the lineup over for the guys at the top," Kelly said. "He’s been so consistent for us all year and he’s doing a heck of a job."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
We’d love to have you!