The other player who was drafted from the 2004 Virginia team along with Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Koshansky, Mark Reynolds has forced his way up the Diamondbacks’ depth chart. But it’s hard to tell what position the 24-year-old will end up at.
Reynolds played all over the diamond between High-A Lancaster and Double-A Tennessee last season, batting a combined .318/.401/.633 with 31 home runs (tied with Koshansky for 4th best in the minors) and 25 doubles.
Surrounded by young Arizona Fall League fans who live for broken bats, Reynolds told us about what it was like to enter 2006 without a minor league starting job, how many gloves he travels with, and his secret for winning golf tournaments.
Adam Foster: Last season, you hit for the highest average and most power of your career – even going back to college. What did you do differently?
Mark Reynolds: I just tried to change my approach from my first year. I was pull-happy…tried to hit home runs every at-bat. This year, I just tried to stay right-center and I tend to stay on a lot more pitches, I hit the slider that way. So it’s helping me with my average a lot.
Foster: What was your mindset when you entered the year without an everyday minor league job?
Reynolds: It’s one of those things were you just gotta take advantage of opportunities. Once I started playing every day, I started being more consistent. It’s tough to not have a position too. So I just took advantage of every opportunity I got…I just went there and played hard.
Foster: Speaking of not having a position and having to play all over the diamond, how many gloves do you have?
Reynolds: I’ve got five. I’ve got first base, middle infield, third base, outfield, and a backup infield.
Foster: I think that rivals any player’s collection in the minors. As a super utility player, do you look up to guys like Jose Oquendo or is it more about trying to find an every day job eventually?
Reynolds: I just want to find a position. Utility is fine with me, it’s just hard for me to stay consistent in the field. I just really would like to have a position where I could go every day and work on that position and be consistent there. But right now if it’s my ticket to the big leagues, then that’s the way it’s going to be.
Foster: Is second base where you feel comfortable and think you could end up?
Reynolds: I hope so. One day.
Foster: Are there many golfers at the Arizona Fall League? Any players who golf much?
Reynolds: (Laughs) My roommates golf. I try to hit every now and then, but I’m not too good. I suck.
Foster: Which of the guys who you’ve played with hits the ball the straightest?
Reynolds: Stephen Jackson. He’s actually pretty decent. Whenever we go out and play for some money or something like that, he’s always on my team because he always puts the drive in the fairway.
You can contact Adam Foster at adamwfoster@gmail.com.