51s try to make Matt Reynolds more valuable to Mets as super utility guy
It’s not uncommon to find people around baseball who think taking a shortstop away from his natural position decreases his value.
Las Vegas manager Wally Backman rejects that notion.
With Gavin Cecchini, a 2012 first round pick, joining the 51s this season, the team has opted to move shortstop Matt Reynolds around the diamond.
And in doing so, Backman believes they’re actually increasing Reynolds’ value.
Backman still believes Reynolds is capable of being a major league shortstop. But without a clear path to that point, Reynolds is more likely to crack the Mets roster as a super utility guy.
“I feel like it helps my value showing that I can play other positions,” Reynolds said. “I feel comfortable at third base. I played second in college and some in pro ball and then short’s my natural position. I feel comfortable everywhere.”
So far, the 51s have moved Reynolds around the infield, but Backman said he could also see some time in left field, too.
Reynolds hasn’t played in the outfield in a professional game, but he thinks he should be able to handle it.
“Left field is just something that’s a little bit new and it gives him a little more versatility,” Backman said. “If that’s what it takes to get a guy in the big leagues, the salaries that they get paid here, when they go to the big leagues, they’re making $600,000 if they’re sitting on the bench. They’re okay with that as long as they get a little bit of playing time.”
More likely, though, he’d be called up to help out in the infield.
“Let’s say (Neil) Walker gets hurt, Matt Reynolds can go to the big leagues and play second base. Every day for them. If (Asdrubal) Cabrera gets hurt, Matt Reynolds can go play shortstop every day up there if that’s what they decided to do. If David Wright gets hurt, Matt Reynolds can go play third base,” Backman said. “I think that’s what they’re looking at in the versatility for Matt because injuries happen so if this happens, we have a guy that we know can go defend up there right now.”
Reynolds finished last season in Las Vegas with a .972 fielding percentage with 423 chances at short and a perfect fielding percentage in limited time at second.
This year, he’s perfect in the field in the team’s 10 games. He’s played a majority of the time at third.
The addition of a couple new positions has doubled the work Reynolds has to put in when he gets to the park. Instead of heading out to short to take 20-30 ground balls, he now moves around, to stay sharp no matter what his position of the day is.
Yet he said he doesn’t mind it, as long as he’s getting better.
“(I) just take them everywhere to stay fresh with every position because you never know with the National League,” Reynolds said. “You could be moving all over the field throughout the game so you just want to be prepared for all of that.”
Each position provides its own set of challenges. At short, he’s the captain of the infield. It’s thought of as the most difficult position in the infield with the most opportunities headed that way.
At third, he has to be ready for hot shots down the line and more diving plays.
Second he likened to short, though with more time to complete plays and shorter throws.
But no matter what the position, Reynolds has made it look easy this year.
“It’s all the same game. Just field the ball and get it to first,” he said. “The more difficult you make this game, the harder it’s going to be so I just try to simplify things.”
Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand
