Jason Mackey: A deep dive into what has fueled Bryan Reynolds' latest huge June

WEST SACRAMENTO — Bryan Reynolds and Mitch Keller are the two longest-tenured Pirates, Reynolds by virtue of when he made his MLB debut, Keller when it comes to time spent in the organization.

So, it’s sort of fitting to hear they have a running gag when June arrives.

“We always joke that June’s his month,” Keller said after the Pirates’ 6-5 victory over the Athletics Tuesday at Sutter Health Park. “He just seems to turn it on.”

Much like Reynolds’ low-key personality, that’s probably an understatement. Reynolds has revved it up big time in June, especially with his four-hit, two-homer night here.

Another productive night at the plate extended Reynolds’ on-base streak to 23 games, second-longest in MLB. Not only that, he’s been among baseball’s most productive hitters during that time:

• Reynolds’ .357 batting average ranks fourth among hitters in either league.

• His OPS of 1.128 is seventh.

• Reynolds’ total of 56 total bases has him tied for fifth.

“The way he’s been swinging the bat lately, he’s barreling everything up,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “And they’re line drives. It’s not like he’s going up there trying to go deep.”

We’ll get back to Reynolds on the season. But in a game where the Pirates erased 4-0 and 5-3 deficits, a night after losing by nine and in desperate need of some good news, Reynolds lifted them up in a big way.

In the sixth, Reynolds ambushed a first-pitch heater located middle-in. The ball traveled 408 feet at 104.2 mph, but Reynolds actually thought it might get caught. Not until he saw center fielder Henry Bolte hang his head did Reynolds feel confident trotting around the bases.

Reynolds’ second homer tied the game at five in the seventh. This time he hammered an 0-1 changeup up in the zone. It only went 350 feet out to right, but it was enough.

When Reynolds got back to the dugout, he expressed his admiration for Sutter Health Park to Kelly.

“I think I told him, ‘This place is awesome,’ ” Reynolds said with a smile. “If you’re a hitter.”

It offered some levity 24 hours after a frustrating loss, but it really hasn’t mattered where Reynolds has played his games. It’s June, and the only thing hotter right now might be the California sun.

We’re also not appreciating Reynolds’ numbers as much as we should.

This recent hot stretch has hiked his OPS up to .870, which ranks 11th in the National League. He’s third in on-base percentage at .400 thanks to a career-high 15.3% walk rate, while his slugging percentage (.470) is the best it’s been since his 6.0 bWAR season back in 2021.

With Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin out, what Reynolds has done has been nothing short of huge.

It certainly has gotten his teammates’ attention.

“To have a guy who’s going to be the anchor in the lineup for us, we definitely need somebody to pick it up,” Brandon Lowe said. “We can’t really ask any more out of Bryan than what he’s been doing. The at-bats have been phenomenal.

“He’s definitely been a calming piece in this lineup for us right now.”

Jake Mangum provided slightly more colorful response.

“Chipper Jones is probably my favorite player of all time,” Mangum said. “But B-Rey is sneaky, sneaky about to eclipse that. I think it’s that number 10 switch hitter, man. Just something about it.”

Speaking of that, Tuesday marked the fourth time Reynolds has homered from both sides of the plate in the same game, the first since Sept. 27, 2024 at Yankee Stadium.

It also continued the June trend, which is absolutely real. Prior to Tuesday’s game, Reynolds was hitting .319 with a .934 OPS in June. His next best month is August, and it’s not particularly close: .282 and .852.

Since 2019, only four Major Leaguers with at least 600 plate appearances in the month have a better batting average than Reynolds, who’s now hitting .419 (13 for 31) with three doubles, four home runs and six RBIs amid an eight-game hitting streak.

“I think he’s settling in,” Kelly said. “They’re always working on different things. He went back and forth with a couple different setups. He’s in a really good spot right now.”

The million-dollar question, of course, the one Reynolds has been asked a few times and usually doesn’t have much of an answer for, involves what has led to this red-hot stretch?

On May 22, the day before Reynolds’ on-base streak started, he was hitting .243, slugging .376 and had a .746 OPS that was being propped up by a lot of walks.

Over the past month, finally, the power has followed.

Kelly said he’s noticed Reynolds catching the ball out in front more. In Houston recently, hitting coach Matt Hague talked about Reynolds doing a better job staying inside the ball, crediting an “old school drill” for how he’s been able to clear his front hip and keep the ball fair pull side.

There also seemed to be a little nudge toward Reynolds ratcheting up the aggressiveness. Walks are great, but hitting for power is better.

“He’s very aware of situations and how pitchers are trying to attack him,” Hague said. “It’s just trying to turn that into maximizing himself in those moments.”

The drill itself received a classic Reynolds downplay. He described it as front toss with a twist: Someone will throw the ball directly at him, and if he doesn’t swing, it’ll hit him in the chest.

The idea isn’t a swing change or to address some mechanical thing. But more to beget aggressiveness and a certain mindset.

“It gets the mind and body going,” Reynolds said.

Hey, whatever works, right?

Reynolds has a better OPS this month (.980) than he has throughout his career in June, an indication of how locked in he’s been.

And just imagine what it could look like when Reynolds really gets going.

“I feel like I’m not really driving the ball yet,” Reynolds said Monday. “I feel pretty good with where I’m at, despite not really feeling like I’ve had the best season. I think there’s more.”

With the team just 5-9 in June and missing two key offensive pieces in Cruz and Griffin, the Pirates sure wouldn’t mind.

“I don’t think we care when it comes,” Kelly said. “He has been really good in June, historically and this June. He’s been a big part of our success offensively and will continue to be.”

Added Keller, "He's so fun to watch, especially when he's this locked in."

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.