Reynolds could get more reps in LF to reduce 'grind'

BRADENTON -- The Pirates’ 9-7 loss to the Phillies on Monday at LECOM Park may have been a preview of a defensive alignment that manager Derek Shelton could regularly roll out during the regular season: Bryan Reynolds in left field, Jack Suwinski in center field and Andrew McCutchen in right field.

“That’s something we could see, depending on what we do with Cutch, in terms of him being on the field, but we could definitely see Jack in center and Bryan in left,” Shelton said.

The Pirates view Reynolds primarily as a center fielder, but he has plenty of experience in left field, as well.

Reynolds played mostly left field in ’19 and ’20, playing about 62 percent of his outfield innings at the position. He began ’21 as the team’s starting left fielder, but transitioned to center field in late April. Despite finishing with -5 defensive runs saved across 137 games, Reynolds accumulated 10 outs above average, landing him in the 98th percentile. In ’22, by contrast, Reynolds rated poorly in both categories, finishing in the 6th percentile of outs above average with -14 DRS, the second-worst of all qualified outfielders.

The All-Star may not have played left field until his final game in 2022, but he nearly turned in one of the Pirates’ best defensive plays of the year in his lone voyage there on Oct. 4 last season.

The Cardinals' Andrew Knizner ripped what looked like a sure double to left field, but Reynolds tracked the ball, slid, backhanded the ball, popped up and fired a perfect throw off his back foot from the warning track -- all in one motion -- to an awaiting Rodolfo Castro at second base. Knizner was safe, but Reynolds made the play interesting. Castro, who didn’t have to move a muscle to receive the throw, dropped his jaw in shock.

In October, Shelton emphasized the challenge of playing center field every day, calling the task “a grind.” Even if Reynolds gets the lion’s share of innings in center field, occasionally playing Reynolds in left field can be a way to ease his workload.

Suwinski dropped a relatively routine fly ball in the first inning Monday, but he handled himself well captaining the outfield in a limited sample last season, accruing one defensive run saved and one out above average across 107 innings. With excellent speed (84th percentile of sprint speed) and an above-average arm (74th percentile of arm strength), Suwinski possesses the tools to handle center field.

Shelton said Suwinski will start several games in center during the early portion of Spring Training so he can get more acquainted with the position.

As for McCutchen, the Pirates will limit the 36-year-old to the corners and designated hitter. A cameo in center field isn’t entirely out of the question, but since being traded from Pittsburgh before the 2018 season, McCutchen has played 106 1/3 innings in center field.

Monday’s starting outfield alignment was just one of many combinations Shelton can roll out.

Along with Suwinski and McCutchen, Connor Joe and Ji Hwan Bae, who both have a strong chance at making the Opening Day roster, could factor into lineup construction. Joe, acquired from the Rockies via trade this offseason, played left and right field in ’22 while Bae spent time at left and center field in the Majors and Minors.

The Pirates have no shortage of options from there. Cal Mitchell, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Tucupita Marcano and Miguel Andújar have played at the corners, while Ryan Vilade has spent time at all three outfield positions.

“We have a lot of options out there and a lot of competition out there,” Shelton said.