Demilio: Bryan Reynolds Proves He Belongs in This Year’s All-Star Game

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton opened his postgame press conference by suggesting where Bryan Reynolds should be spending All-Star week.

“I hope the All-Star voting didn’t shut down yet with Bryan Reynolds, because that was pretty impressive,” he said. “I hope it’s still going.”

It was, indeed, an impressive performance for Reynolds in the Pirates’ dominating 14-2 win over the New York Mets at PNC Park on Friday night. Impressive probably isn’t a strong enough word to describe what Reynolds did at the plate.

Reynolds hit two of the Pirates’ franchise record-tying seven home runs — one of which was a grand slam in the eighth inning — in what was the team’s best offensive output of the season.

Six RBIs in the game for Reynolds set a season-high. In addition to his two homers, Reynolds recorded two other hits and finished 4 for 5, giving him his second game of the season with at least four hits.

“It’s just one of those days where it works out for you,” Reynolds said following his performance.

Not only was it working for Reynolds, but it was working for several others in the Pirates’ lineup.

Like Reynolds, Rowdy Tellez homered twice and hit a grand slam. Reynolds and Tellez became the first pair of teammates in MLB history to each hit multiple homers including a grand slam in the same game (via OptaSTATS on Twitter/X).

A trio of slumping players in Jack Suwinski, Yasmani Grandal and Michael A. Taylor also went deep as the Pirates recorded 16 hits in addition to their season-high 14 runs.

“In (Grandal’s) case I think he’s taken some good swings over the last week and hasn’t got anything to show for it and the one double fell, which was good, and then for him to hit the homer,” Shelton said. Michael I mean outstanding. What he had four hits, one of them was to center, the other three were to right, the homer to right, that’s good to see him staying on the ball, really impressive.

“And then Jack’s first at bat he hit a ball 110 right at a guy and then hit the homer but overall, it was a complete offensive effort.”

Though the Pirates received contributions from up and down the lineup, Reynolds shined the brightest as he often has as the team’s best hitter throughout the season.

Following his big night at the plate, Reynolds is batting a healthy .280 with a .344 on-base percentage and a .487 slug. He has 19 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 50 RBIs and has played in all 87 games this season.

The numbers aren’t necessarily MVP-caliber, but they are quite impressive. When looking at outfielders across the National League, Reynolds has been among the very best.

At the conclusion of Friday night’s game, Reynolds leads National League outfielders with 99 hits and slugging percentage and is second in both home runs and OPS. He’s tied for third with 19 doubles and is fourth in RBIs. He also finds himself in the top 10 in batting average and on-base percentage.

That’s an All-Star.

Reynolds is one of a handful of Pirates’ players who should be under some level of consideration to head to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas to represent Pittsburgh in the Midsummer Classic.

A case can be made for Mitch Keller. A case could be made for Paul Skenes, who improved to 5-0 after seven-strong innings in the win over the Mets.

Keller and Skenes should both get strong consideration to be on the All-Star roster if Pittsburgh has more than one selection, but Reynolds has to be the first choice to represent the Pirates.

He has been the savoir this year for an otherwise lackluster lineup — outside of Wednesday night’s performance.

Based off of his value and his production, Bryan Reynolds should be rewarded with his second-career All-Star appearance.