Mark Reynolds Stats & Scouting Report

AB	5432
AVG	.236
OBP	.328
SLG	.453
HR	298

Full name Mark Andrew Reynolds
Born 08/03/1983 in Pikeville, KY
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Virginia
Debut 05/16/2007
Drafted in the 16th round (476th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004.

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SS Mark Reynolds has good actions, with average arm strength and range, but most scouts think he will have to move to second base in pro ball. He is decent with the bat (.288-10-43) but has a slow trigger and tries to play a big man's game instead of playing to his strengths.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Reynolds played shortstop in a Virginia infield that also featured Ryan Zimmerman and Rockies prospect Joe Koshansky, but an injured wrist in his junior season dented his draft prospects. He broke out in 2006, hitting 31 homers between two stops before playing for Team USA in the Olympic qualifying tournament. He led that squad with four homers in just six games. Reynolds always had bat speed and power potential, and he finally has put together a consistent approach at the plate to tap into his ability. In the past he would show his strong hands in batting practice but float out on his front foot in games and sell out to pull the ball. Now he's staying back and is a threat to put a charge in the ball every time up. He's a versatile defender who played at first, second, third and the outfield last season. He's an average runner. While Reynolds can play a lot of positions, he'll never be a standout with the glove. His best spots are second and third base, and his ceiling is as a power-hitting second baseman in the Jeff Kent mold. The slow change in his approach illustrates how stubborn he can be. Reynolds will probably begin the season as the second baseman in Double-A, though he'll get time at other positions as well.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Diamondbacks summoned Reynolds from Mobile in mid-May when Chad Tracy was injured, and the slugging infielder spent the rest of the season as Arizona's everyday third baseman. He has plus power and an aggressive approach, which eventually led to an all-or-nothing mentality in the big leagues. He tied a major league record by striking out in nine straight plate appearances in August, though he also ranked third on the team with 17 homers in just 366 at-bats. He added a tiebreaking homer off Carlos Marmol in Game One of the National League Division Series. Reynolds' plus bat speed is his best asset. When he keeps his weight and hands back, he's a deadly hitter, mashing balls to left and left-center field. He tends to drift during his swing and often finds himself out on his front foot. Reynolds could refine his approach by improving his pitch selection and using the whole field with more frequency. He made 11 errors in just 23 games at third base in Mobile. His defense isn't a strength, as Reynolds' range and agility are underwhelming. He's a fringe-average runner underway.
Reynolds has been the forgotten man since his college days at Virginia, when he shared an infield with Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Koshansky. He began 2006 as a utility player at Lancaster, seeing significant playing time at shortstop (where he got 111 at-bats), second base, third base, left field, DH and even a few games at first. Regardless of where he played, Lancaster made sure to get his bat in the lineup every day, and Reynolds exploded for 31 homers between the Cal League and Double-A, ranking third in the minors at the time he left to join Team USA for the Olympic qualifying tournament. He led the national team with four homers despite playing in just six of the tournament's nine games. "I didn't know what to expect from him, then when I saw his power, I thought, 'This kid's got big league power,' " Butler said. "It was just him trying to recognize and make adjustments. He didn't miss a mistake. You throw a mistake, he's going to hit it. And he's very versatile. I think he can play all five of those positions if needed." As with Rodriguez, Reynolds' ability to play multiple positions should land him at least a major league utility job. He has a quick, aggressive approach at the plate and can hit the ball with authority to all fields, though his power numbers were inflated by Lancaster's hitter-friendly Clear Channel Stadium. His footwork, range and arm are all fringy but playable for a utilityman.