Relationship unfolds between Reynolds, Suwinski in a loss
BRADENTON, Fla. — From the first workout of spring training, the relationship has been evident. Jack Suwinski and Bryan Reynolds, together pretty much all the time. Their lockers at Pirate City were close. They threw together. They hit together. They talked.
“Obviously, I look up to him — as a person and as a player,” Suwinski said. “I like spending time with him.”
Reynolds and Suwinski spent some time rounding the bases — although not together — on Sunday during an 11-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves at LECOM Park, as the offensive portion of this one was defined by homers they each hit.
In Reynolds’ case, it was his second in as many days, as he obliterated a four-seam fastball from Braves starter Jared Shuster that leaked out over the plate. Swinging right-handed, Reynolds did a terrific job capitalizing on what was a sizable mistake pitch. After hitting .067 through six games, Reynolds has looked like his old self over the past two.
“Spring is just trying to get your timing, trying to get all of that going,” Reynolds said. “Every time you put the ball on the barrel, it’s kind of a win. It’s nice to obviously get hits and mix in a couple homers.”
To find his timing, Reynolds recently opted for a heavier bat. He calls it his “puck bat” because of its larger handle, one designed to counterbalance weight. It’s an idea Suwinski has toyed with from time to time, too.
Suwinski, meanwhile, shortened up and knocked a two-strike splitter over the fence, the mature approach the Pirates are looking for out of him.
Much like Reynolds, Suwinski has the ability to be more than a home run hitter. He has the smarts and ability to be a really good hitter who hits home runs — and also someone who doesn’t need PNC Park or lopsided home/road splits to do damage.
The two outfielders share similar paths, essentially going from Double-A right to the majors. Reynolds did spend 13 games at Triple-A, but nobody really remembers it. Suwinski had to bump back there last season following some struggles and saw 31 games at the highest level of minor league baseball.
But they’re players with a sneaky sort of maturity and understanding of what makes them great. They’re also not super vocal or showy. They prefer to operate in their own understated way, though they should play big-time roles for the Pirates this season.
“I love playing with him,” Reynolds said. “Great player and a good dude off the field. A lot of talent. I’m looking forward to spending another year with him and playing outfield next to him. Whatever I can do to help him, I’m willing to do.”
At the plate
The situation for Suwinski: a 2-2 count, runner on third and one out against Kirby Yates. Suwinski said he thought about shortening up and putting the ball in play, making sure to guard against a four-seamer with riding action and a terrific changeup.
The result was Suwinski reaching out to hammer a splitter and sending it onto the boardwalk in right-center for his first homer of the spring.
“I tried to minimize my movements and go a little bit more bat to ball ... just kinda taking away a little bit of intent,” Suwinski said. “Just trying to stay in the middle of the field and get something that will get that run in.”
Yeah, that’ll do it. The Pirates need that approach — and fewer strikeouts — from Suwinski, who’s tied for the spring training team lead with 10.
Despite the punchouts, Suwinski’s reworked swing (more upright and open) has clicked enough to produce a .278 average, a .391 on-base percentage and three extrabase hits in nine games. As good as some of the Pirates’ younger outfielders have been, it’s still difficult to see someone else starting alongside Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen come opening day.
“I’m very appreciative of our staff,” Suwinski said. “We’re all working really hard, all day, all camp. Everyone has been working their tails off to get to the spot that they want to be and compete for a spot on the team and help the team win games. I think there have been a number of adjustments already that I’ve made. We talk about it daily. I’m just very grateful to have that ability to talk about it and continue to work on it.”
On the mound
Mitch Keller made one mistake pitch and paid for it, but aside from that solo home run from Michael Harris II in the top of the first inning, it was a solid outing for someone who’s tracking toward an opening day start.
Facing the Braves’ terrific center fielder, Keller fell into a 2-0 hole and didn’t do himself any favors by throwing a sinker over the heart of the plate. Harris made Keller pay by knocking it over the fence in left.
“I just put myself in a bad count and tried to get into the zone,” Keller said. “He got a good swing on it.”
Credit Keller, however; he finished strong. After a comeback off the bat of first baseman Ryan Casteel glanced off his glove, leading to a run- scoring single, Keller buckled down and retired the final eight men he faced, four via strikeout.
The cutter accounted for 36% of Keller’s pitch mix, followed by his four-seamer at 27%. Forty of Keller’s 61 pitches went for strikes, as he stayed around the zone and racked up four strikeouts. The best sequence of the game might’ve come in the third inning, when Keller started Vaughn Grissom with a cutter for a called strike, got the Braves shortstop to swing through a sweeper and finished him off with a 99 mph fastball.
“I definitely felt different the last two innings,” said Keller, who allowed two earned runs over four innings.
Quotable
“Bryan has done a great job, especially when hitting left-handed, talking about what they’re going to see and how they’re going to be attacked. I think that just speaks to who he is — a pretty good guy to look up to.” — Pirates manager Derek Shelton
Up next
The Pirates have their first off day of the spring on Monday. They’re back at LECOM Park on Tuesday against the Orioles. Rich Hill will make his third start.