Pittsburgh Pirates: Projecting Team’s Lineup by the End of 2022

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 08: Ke'Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a solo home run in the sixth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 8, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 08: Ke'Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a solo home run in the sixth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 8, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 08: Bryan Reynolds #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates makes a diving catch during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 8, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 08: Bryan Reynolds #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates makes a diving catch during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 8, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Left Field – Bryan Reynolds

Another long-term piece that is already on the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League roster is Bryan Reynolds. Reynolds showed a ton of promise in his 2019 rookie season. After a sophomore slump in a very strange 2020 season, Reynolds has broken out even further and surpassed his 2019 production.

Through 455 plate appearances, the switch-hitting outfielder has a .305/.388/.526 line, has a .389 wOBA, and 145 wRC+. Aside from his batting average, all of those are currently career-best marks. He’s also blasted 19 home runs while having 26 doubles already. His HR total is already 3 past his 2019 amount and he could easily pass his 2019 doubles mark of 37.

He’s also walking more and striking out less. His walk rate has increased every year of his big league career and has reached a 10.8% mark this year. He has significantly decreased his strikeout rate compared to 2020, going from 27.4% to just 20.2%. Reynolds’ breakout is for real. He has a .287 xBA, .512 xSLG, .381 xwOBA, and 126 DRC+. Meaning, at the very worst, he’s somewhere in between his 2019 self and 2021 self.

Plus his defense has improved. Although DRS (-2) and UZR/150 (-6.4) don’t put him in the best of light, he’s in the top 98th percentile of outs above average. He’s mainly played center field this year. Though right now, I pencil him into left field. He has plenty of experience in left and given his solid work in center, his glove should play up, potentially to a Gold Glove level. Though it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone if he’s still in center field by the end of 2022.