PITTSBURGH – Bryan Reynolds, the Pirates' longest-tenured player, has accomplished a lot in his eight-year MLB career.
The 31-year-old has been an All-Star twice. He finished fourth in the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year race and received MVP votes in 2021. When he signed a $106.75 million extension in 2023, it was a franchise record.
This year, Reynolds could add a couple more individual achievements to his resume. The switch-hitter notched his 40th double of the season in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals at PNC Park. Reynolds is the first Pirate to hit the mark since Nate McLouth had 46 in 2007, and he's only the second switch-hitter in franchise history to have a 40-double season, joining Bobby Bonilla (44, 1991).
Reynolds leads MLB in the category as the only player so far to hit the benchmark.
"It was cool. I hit it and I told myself I was going to second no matter what. Luckily the throw was off," Reynolds said of eighth-inning double off Cade Winquest. "Doubles are cool, so it's good to hit a lot of those. It would've been nice to sprinkle in some home runs too, but I'll take the 40 doubles."
Part of the reason Reynolds was able to record 40 doubles this season is be...