Reinheimer continuing evolution in Fall League

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded Mark Trumbo to Seattle, they got three top prospects in return from the Mariners. One of those prospects was Jack Reinheimer, now with the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.

Reinheimer, who was taken by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2013 Draft out of East Carolina University, is described by MLB Pipeline to be a "consistent contact hitter" with "above-average speed." Reinheimer is the D-backs' 12th-rated prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

"It has been an unbelievable experience," Reinheimer said of his time in the Fall League. "Just meeting guys from all different organizations; just being lumped together with this group is really humbling."

Reinheimer had a .236 average through 16 AFL games, with 13 hits and four RBIs. He is also tied for the league lead with 12 walks and boasts a .373 on-base percentage.

Reinheimer split time this past season between the Double-A affiliates of the Mariners (Jackson Generals) and D-backs (Mobile Bay Bears). His numbers put him at the top of many categories for both teams.

Reinheimer led Jackson in hits and at-bats, was second in walks and stolen bases, third in doubles and fourth in RBIs. For Mobile, Reinheimer was first in walks, stolen bases and runs, and second in doubles, hits and at-bats. He played a combined 124 games between the two affiliates.

While in the AFL, Reinheimer is concentrating on improving some of the finer points of his game.

"My biggest thing is just working on consistency and staying true to who I am as a player," Reinheimer said. "Being more of a situational guy and being able to move a runner, get a guy over."

Reinheimer credits his baseball success to both his high school and college coaches.

"My high school coach, Hal Bagwell, huge props to him," Reinheimer said. "He instilled a really heavy workload and kind of work ethic at a young age, and I think that kind of stuck with me throughout my career thus far. My college coach, Billy Godwin, was kind of the same way, so I was fortunate [that] those two guys kind of have the same program at both levels."

Baseball has taken Reinheimer all over the country. He played his college ball in North Carolina, played summer ball for two seasons in New England, Class A ball in Washington, California and Iowa, and Double-A ball in Tennessee and Alabama.

Reinheimer said he learned a lot during his summers in New England during college, especially his time in the Cape Cod League with the Bourne Braves in 2012.

"Just being among those guys and growing as a player and a person," he said. "You deal with failure for the first time in those kind of leagues, and you learn how to overcome things like that. Just learn things from other guys and meeting guys from all over the place and seeing their outlook on the game and just taking bits and pieces from everything."

Rockies prospect Jordan Patterson, one of Reinheimer's current teammate with the Salt River Rafters, was also a teammate with the Bourne Braves. Patterson was thrilled to be reunited with Reinheimer in the AFL.

"He is a class act -- great teammate, great person, just a great guy to be around," Patterson said. "As soon as I found out we were on the same team in the Fall League, I wanted to live with him, just be around him, because he just has that charismatic-type personality."

Patterson, the Rockies' No. 22 prospect, said that Reinheimer really has not changed much since the last time the two were together in 2012.

"He is still a great player. He is one of those guys that rubs off on you," Patterson said. "You see him the first time and you can tell he is a good player, but the more you play with him, the more you are around him and the more you see him work and all the things he does, you are like, 'Man this guy is going to be a really good player.' So he just grows on you."