Bryan Reynolds becomes 25th player in Pirates history to hit 100 home runs

Bryan Reynolds has been aware since last season that he was approaching his 100th career home run, so the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder was just waiting for the right pitch.

Although the majority of his homers have come against right-handed pitchers, Reynolds was batting .333 (5 for 15) against lefties this season. So it was a good omen when the Detroit Tigers turned to left-hander Tyler Holton to relieve starter Reese Olson in the fifth inning.

When Holton threw a thigh-high sinker in the sixth inning, Reynolds connected at a 108.4-mph exit velocity and sent it 412 feet over the left field bleachers for a home run in the 7-4 win Monday night at PNC Park. It was the top distance and fourth-hardest hit of the game, per Statcast.

“Yeah, feels good. Happy to get it out of the way,” said Reynolds, who hit his 99th homer in the second inning of the 6-5 win at Miami on Opening Day. “Knocked it out.”

DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THAT

Bryan Reynolds with a NO DOUBTER

108.4 MPH exit velocity, 412 feet, HR in 30/30 ballparks pic.twitter.com/FMxEUXpnPD

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) April 9, 2024

By doing so, Reynolds became the 25th player in franchise history to hit 100 home runs as a Pirate, tying Garrett Jones’ total and becoming the first to do so since Starling Marte (108) in July 2019. Hall of Famer Willie Stargell has the most home runs in club history, with 475. Bobby Bonilla is the only Pirates switch hitter with more homers than Reynolds, with 114 from 1986-91. Reynolds has hit 77 home runs against right-handers, 23 against lefties.

Reynolds, who added a single in the eighth inning, is now batting .250 (12 for 48) with an .815 OPS and leads the Pirates with 10 RBIs this season, though he also leads them in strikeouts (11) and walks (eight). He’s tied for the home run lead with Oneil Cruz, as both have two.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton was more pleased with Reynolds “getting back on track” than hitting a career milestone, considering he ended an 0-for-16 stretch that included going 0 for 4 in three consecutive games against the Baltimore Orioles. Reynolds had two groundouts and a lineout in his first three at-bats against the Tigers but finished 2 for 5 with the game’s only home run.

“He had better at-bats today,” Shelton said. “I think it was inevitable he was going to get to 100. It’s just a matter of seeing better swings today. It’s very important for the function of our lineup.”