rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
Mikey Reynolds is among the oldest players on the Danville Braves roster, but he figures he's relatively unknown compared to some of his teammates.
"There's a lot of guys who've been drafted before me [in previous years]," the second baseman said. "I try to play like no one has seen me before. I'm kind of the new guy now."
Under that category, Reynolds sure has made a good first impression since he arrived this summer as a fifth-round choice in June's Draft. He's been among the Appalachian League's leading batters, quite often in the middle of the rally when Danville's offense kicks into gear.
"Mikey is a catalyst," Danville manager Jonathan Schuerholz said. "He can jump-start the team."
That happened recently when the Braves were scoreless through five innings in the opener of a doubleheader. Reynolds led off the sixth by hitting a ball into left-center field. Unwilling to settle for a single, he slid into second with a double. From there, Danville rallied to tie the game and force extra innings.
"My speed got me there," he said of the play. "I just know that's one of my biggest tools, and I have to use that to my advantage."
Reynolds showed patience in deciding when to turn pro. Now it's time to put the accelerator down because he acknowledges the notion that he might have to make up ground within the organization.
"That's a common feeling," Reynolds said. "Knowing my age, about to turn 23 [on Aug. 19]. You focus on the present and it will all work out."
Schuerholz said it didn't take long to notice that Reynolds is a clubhouse leader. So even with his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, he has cast a large shadow so far.
"I can't look over anybody's head," Reynolds said.
A switch-hitter, Reynolds often has been slotted in the third spot in the batting order, making a quick adjustment since arriving from a senior season at Texas A&M. He said one of the most difficult aspects of the transition to the professional level has been finding a wood bat model that he's comfortable with.
Reynolds made several collegiate stops, going to St. Mary's (Calif.) before Paradise Valley (Ariz.) Community College before two seasons at Texas A&M.
He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round in 2012, marking a 10-round improvement from when the Baltimore Orioles selected him a year earlier. A stress fracture of his elbow in 2012 nixed thoughts of turning pro then, though, and he made the most of his second year with Texas A&M.
"I was finally healthy, and I performed and put up stats," Reynolds said. "I would've been kind of bummed if I didn't go in the top-five rounds."
That turned out to be the case, a relatively early Draft pick considering his status as a college senior.
"It's his first professional half-season -- there's a lot to like," Schuerholz said. "He's a tough out, and he battles his tail off out there."
In the field, he has played both middle infield positions for Danville, though the Braves appear to have him tagged primarily as a second baseman in their initial plans.
Reynolds, who has occupied the leadoff spot at times, put together a 10-game hitting streak through Tuesday and is hitting a team-high .328 with six steals in 36 games.
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THURSDAY'S GAMES
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett (51-69) 3, Norfolk 2 (10)
SP: Loe 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.
WP: Lamm (2-1) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Obispo (Save, 6) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Schafer 0-5, K (.071); Leonard 1-4, 2 RBII; Mejia 3-4, 2 R, HR (28th), RBI, SB; Boggs 1-4, R; Gosselin 2-4.
CLASS AA
Game One
Jackson 4, Mississippi (61-53) 1 (7)
LP: Schlosser (6-4) 5.2 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
Salcedo 1-3, HR (11th), RBI; Bethancourt 2-3, 2B; La Stella 1-3, 2B I(.340). .
Game Two
Jackson 6, Mississippi 0 (7)
LP: Moran (1-2) 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
Simmons 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
La Stella 1-3 (.340); Brewer 3-3.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Wilmington 11, Lynchburg (53-58) 2
LP: Holland (4-8) 2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 HBP.
C. Perez 0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 ER(7R), 4 BB, 0 K.
Landoni 0-3, RBI; Weaver 2-4; Elander 1-4, 2B, R..
CLASS A
Rome (56-59) 7, Charleston 3
WP: L. SIms (9-4) 7 IP 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.
Wren 1-4, 2B, R; Peraza 3-5, 2 R, RBI, SB (50); E.Garcia 2-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI; Heffley 2-4, RBI; Sanchez 1-4, RBI.
SHORT-SEASON
Danville (22-23) 6, Burlington 2
SP: Flores 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
WP: Otero (2-0) 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Holmes (Save, 1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K.
Luna 2-4, RBI; Reynolds 1-4, R, SB; V. Reyes 0-5, R, RBI; Piloto 0-4, RBI; Camargo 3-5, 2 R, 3B, RBI.
GCL PIrates 5, GCL Braves (18-23) 4
SP: Grosser 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.
LP: Cordero (1-3) 3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
Hagenmiller 2-4, RBI; Morel 1-4, R, SB; Oliver 2-4, 2 R, RBI, SB.
DSL Cubs 3, DSL Braves (24-31) 0 (5th, susp.)
SP: Santiago 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
0 hits in 4 IP.
"There's a lot of guys who've been drafted before me [in previous years]," the second baseman said. "I try to play like no one has seen me before. I'm kind of the new guy now."
Under that category, Reynolds sure has made a good first impression since he arrived this summer as a fifth-round choice in June's Draft. He's been among the Appalachian League's leading batters, quite often in the middle of the rally when Danville's offense kicks into gear.
"Mikey is a catalyst," Danville manager Jonathan Schuerholz said. "He can jump-start the team."
That happened recently when the Braves were scoreless through five innings in the opener of a doubleheader. Reynolds led off the sixth by hitting a ball into left-center field. Unwilling to settle for a single, he slid into second with a double. From there, Danville rallied to tie the game and force extra innings.
"My speed got me there," he said of the play. "I just know that's one of my biggest tools, and I have to use that to my advantage."
Reynolds showed patience in deciding when to turn pro. Now it's time to put the accelerator down because he acknowledges the notion that he might have to make up ground within the organization.
"That's a common feeling," Reynolds said. "Knowing my age, about to turn 23 [on Aug. 19]. You focus on the present and it will all work out."
Schuerholz said it didn't take long to notice that Reynolds is a clubhouse leader. So even with his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, he has cast a large shadow so far.
"I can't look over anybody's head," Reynolds said.
A switch-hitter, Reynolds often has been slotted in the third spot in the batting order, making a quick adjustment since arriving from a senior season at Texas A&M. He said one of the most difficult aspects of the transition to the professional level has been finding a wood bat model that he's comfortable with.
Reynolds made several collegiate stops, going to St. Mary's (Calif.) before Paradise Valley (Ariz.) Community College before two seasons at Texas A&M.
He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round in 2012, marking a 10-round improvement from when the Baltimore Orioles selected him a year earlier. A stress fracture of his elbow in 2012 nixed thoughts of turning pro then, though, and he made the most of his second year with Texas A&M.
"I was finally healthy, and I performed and put up stats," Reynolds said. "I would've been kind of bummed if I didn't go in the top-five rounds."
That turned out to be the case, a relatively early Draft pick considering his status as a college senior.
"It's his first professional half-season -- there's a lot to like," Schuerholz said. "He's a tough out, and he battles his tail off out there."
In the field, he has played both middle infield positions for Danville, though the Braves appear to have him tagged primarily as a second baseman in their initial plans.
Reynolds, who has occupied the leadoff spot at times, put together a 10-game hitting streak through Tuesday and is hitting a team-high .328 with six steals in 36 games.
--------------
THURSDAY'S GAMES
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett (51-69) 3, Norfolk 2 (10)
SP: Loe 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.
WP: Lamm (2-1) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Obispo (Save, 6) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Schafer 0-5, K (.071); Leonard 1-4, 2 RBII; Mejia 3-4, 2 R, HR (28th), RBI, SB; Boggs 1-4, R; Gosselin 2-4.
CLASS AA
Game One
Jackson 4, Mississippi (61-53) 1 (7)
LP: Schlosser (6-4) 5.2 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
Salcedo 1-3, HR (11th), RBI; Bethancourt 2-3, 2B; La Stella 1-3, 2B I(.340). .
Game Two
Jackson 6, Mississippi 0 (7)
LP: Moran (1-2) 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
Simmons 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
La Stella 1-3 (.340); Brewer 3-3.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Wilmington 11, Lynchburg (53-58) 2
LP: Holland (4-8) 2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 HBP.
C. Perez 0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 ER(7R), 4 BB, 0 K.
Landoni 0-3, RBI; Weaver 2-4; Elander 1-4, 2B, R..
CLASS A
Rome (56-59) 7, Charleston 3
WP: L. SIms (9-4) 7 IP 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.
Wren 1-4, 2B, R; Peraza 3-5, 2 R, RBI, SB (50); E.Garcia 2-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI; Heffley 2-4, RBI; Sanchez 1-4, RBI.
SHORT-SEASON
Danville (22-23) 6, Burlington 2
SP: Flores 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
WP: Otero (2-0) 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Holmes (Save, 1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K.
Luna 2-4, RBI; Reynolds 1-4, R, SB; V. Reyes 0-5, R, RBI; Piloto 0-4, RBI; Camargo 3-5, 2 R, 3B, RBI.
GCL PIrates 5, GCL Braves (18-23) 4
SP: Grosser 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.
LP: Cordero (1-3) 3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
Hagenmiller 2-4, RBI; Morel 1-4, R, SB; Oliver 2-4, 2 R, RBI, SB.
DSL Cubs 3, DSL Braves (24-31) 0 (5th, susp.)
SP: Santiago 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
0 hits in 4 IP.
