Pittsburgh Prates: MLB Network Ranks Bryan Reynolds One of MLB's Top Left Fielders

Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds has been ranked as one of the best in baseball by MLB Network

Late in each offseason, MLB Network releases their yearly MLB Now lists. These lists look to count down the top 100 players in baseball, as well as the top 10 players at each position. When it comes to their list of top 10 left fielders, the Pittsburgh Pirates make an appearances.

MLB Network has ranked Pirate left fielder Bryan Reynolds as the 4th best left fielder in baseball right now. This is despite Reynolds coming off a down season for his standards, thanks in large part to a nagging back issues, and he probably has an opportunity to climb that list this season.

Reynolds ranks behind Nolan Jones of the Colorado Rockies, Brandon Nimmo of the New York Mets, and Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.

Last April, Reynolds signed the largest contract in Pirate history when he inked an 8-year, $106.75 million deal with the club. His fifth MLB season saw Reynolds hit for a .263/.330/.460 slash line with a 110 wRC+, 113 OPS+, and .197 isolated slugging (ISO). He hit 24 home runs while posting a 2.4 WAR.

These numbers were a bit of a step below the norm for Reynolds. He is a lifetime .277/.354/.476 hitter with a 122 wRC+ and 124 OPS+. Excluding the 60-game COVID season of 2020, Reynolds has been worth an average 3.9 WAR per season.

Again, most of his struggles last season likely stemmed from his back issue. Assuming Reynolds bounces back to his career norms in 2024, he could find himself a spot or two higher on this list next January.

The Pirates are also in need of a bounce back season from Reynolds. If the team is going to surprise people and compete for the postseason, odds are a big season at the plate from Reynolds would prove to be a driving force.