SAN JOSE, Calif. -- At this time last year, Bryan Reynolds didn't even know what the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game was. But this year, Reynolds will get to know all about it firsthand as the Giants' lone representative in the Futures Game.
"It's really cool," said Reynolds, who has spent 2017 with Class A Advanced San Jose. "I didn't even know what it was until last year, when I had some of my buddies from school playing in it. I'm excited about it. It should be a good time."
:: 2017 Futures Game coverage ::
Reynolds was the Giants' first selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, taken with the 59th overall pick in the second round out of Vanderbilt. As he now reaches a full season's worth of at-bats since signing, Reynolds has continued to hit the ball well at each level, impressing San Jose manager Nestor Rojas.
"He has the ability to play baseball. That's why we got him," Rojas said. "He has great tools, baseball-wise. He's been more consistent now, and he's developed. We've done a good job teaching him the right way -- the right approach at the plate, the right approach fielding the ball, the right approach on the bases. He's a very smart kid, and he's applied it really quick."
Between Class A Short Season Salem-Keizer and Class A Augusta, Reynolds batted .313 in 56 games in 2016, hitting six homers and collecting 38 RBIs. He even went 4-for-12 for San Jose in the California League playoffs, hitting a homer.
Staying with San Jose to start 2017, Reynolds has batted .297 entering Thursday, hitting 16 doubles, four homers and seven triples, which is tied for the California League high. Seeing him head to the Futures Game gives Rojas a sense of pride.
"This kid has some special tools," Rojas said. "It'll make me feel good because I have this kid every single day and I know the way he works, the way he takes care of himself and his business. He will be a very good representative of the Giants in the Futures Game."
Reynolds, the Giants' No. 3 prospect, departed for Miami at 6 a.m. Friday, and he will participate in all of the pregame events leading up to today's game. Player Page for Matt Cain (2004), Madison Bumgarner ('09) and Kyle Crick ('13) all participated in the Futures Game since the event started in 1999.
But for a player just barely a year into his professional career, the chance to play in a Major League ballpark and experience the environment around a big league game is something both Reynolds and Rojas find valuable.
"Just to get acclimated just a little bit? That has to help later," Reynolds said. "Every event in your life will help you at some point further on, so I'm sure that'll pay off at some point."
Rojas added, I don't think it'll affect him at all. If anything, it might make his confidence even better when he comes back."
The 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game takes place today at 1 p.m. PT at Marlins Park in Miami and can be viewed live on MLB Network and MLB.com.