It took him a bit longer than usual, but Pittsburgh Pirates star Bryan Reynolds is finally starting to look like himself at the plate again.
From 2021 to 2024, Reynolds was the definition of consistency. He batted. 276/.352/.472 (126 OPS+) and made two All-Star teams during that span while averaging 25 homers, 81 RBI, 151 games and 3.7 WAR per season.
By comparison, 2025 has been a down year for Reynolds. While he’s remained as durable as ever (missing just seven games thus far), the 30-year-old outfielder got off to a slow start and struggled to find his rhythm offensively.
He showed signs of breaking out of his slump in late May and late June, only to slide back into a funk. His power stroke mysteriously vanished in the middle of the summer, resulting in a 29-game homerless streak from June 30 through Aug. 6.
July was Reynolds’ toughest stretch of the season. He went the whole month without homering and drove in only six runs in 22 games. He finished the month with 30 strikeouts, two walks and a .195/.222/.264 batting line.
Story continues below advertisement
Reynolds’ advanced stats reveal several possible explanations for his decline. His 26.8% strikeout rate is his highest since 2020, while his 7.3% walk rate is the lowest of his career, so his plate discipline hasn’t been as strong as usual.
He’s still hitting the ball hard when he makes contact, but he’s been too pull-happy with the second-highest pull percentage (43.0%) of his career. He also hasn’t been elevating the ball as well as in the past, posting his lowest fly-ball rate (29.6%) and average launch angle (7.6 degrees) to date.
Fortunately for Reynolds, he’s gotten himself back on track in August. His power has returned and he’s driving the ball again.
Reynolds’ revival was on full display during Wednesday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers. In his first multi-homer game of the year, he went 3-for-4, homered in back-to-back innings and drove in a season-high five runs — nearly matching his July RBI total in one game.
Story continues below advertisement
In 13 games this month, Reynolds is batting .367/426/.673 with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBI. That’s more like it.
While his overall numbers remain down compared to the last few years, they’re finally trending in the right direction. He still has time to finish the season strong and potentially reach 20 homers for the fifth year in a row.
It’s too late to save the Pirates’ season, as they’re 20 games below .500 after getting swept by the Brewers. However, ending the year on a high note may help him regain his confidence and avoid another sluggish start next season.
Story continues below advertisement
More Pirates: Pirates Insider: ‘Reason To Be Concerned’ About Two-Time All-Star
Featured image via Michael McLoone-Imagn Images