'We need him': Pirates' Bryan Reynolds navigates through elongated offensive slump

Through parts of seven big-league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bryan Reynolds largely has been a pillar of productivity, offering consistent offense year-in and year-out.

Aside from the covid-condensed 2020 campaign, during which he (along with many hitters across MLB) struggled immensely, batting only .189, Reynolds benefitted the Pirates’ offense regularly with his presence in the lineup.

A two-time All-Star and career .272 batter, Reynolds has averaged roughly 25 homers, 81 RBIs and 29 doubles over the last four seasons.

But in 2025, Reynolds has remained mired in an elongated slump.

Following Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the New York Mets, in which he was 0 for 5 with two strikeouts, Reynolds is slashing just .198/.259/.314 with five home runs and 20 RBIs.

“Personally, I feel like he’s trying to do a little bit too much right now,” manager Don Kelly said Monday, after Reynolds went 0 for 5, albeit with an RBI, in the Pirates’ 4-3 defeat.

“Trying to carry the team, put the team on his back and getting out of the zone a little bit and chasing. Really just needs to slow things down, simplify and get back to getting his pitch and counts that he can hit in.”

To Kelly’s point, chasing, indeed, has been an ongoing issue for Reynolds. Through 42 games, he has struck out 54 times in 172 at-bats (31.4%).

Reynolds’ lifetime strikeout rate is 25%.

As the Pirates entered their series finale Wednesday against the Mets, Reynolds was batting just .102 (5 for 49) in May, with 13 strikeouts in 49 at-bats.

After Tuesday’s defeat in New York, Kelly responded to an inquiry about Reynolds being given a day or some time off as the 30-year-old’s struggles mount.

“We’ll see,” Kelly said. “Maybe give him a day down. Not exactly sure when that’ll be, but just trying to get him going. We need him.”

The Pirates went 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position Tuesday, stranding 12 men on base, and Reynolds was a major contributorto those offensive woes.

After striking out in his first at-bat, Reynolds came to the plate in the third inning with runners on second and third.

With two outs, he grounded out to end the frame.

In the fifth, Reynolds was again the final out, flying out to right field with Adam Frazier on third base.

Following a groundout in the seventh, Reynolds got one more opportunity to come through in the clutch Tuesday, batting in the ninth inning.

With one out and the Pirates trailing 2-1, Frazier (walk) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (error) had both stolen a bag to advance to second and third.

But in a six-pitch at-bat against New York closer Edwin Diaz, Reynolds was rung up on strikes with a fastball down the middle before Joey Bart grounded out to end the game.

On the whole, it has been a slow season for Reynolds at the plate, but in April, he at least managed to bat .248 for the month.

However, Reynolds is now navigating one of the worst slumps of his career: He is 2 for his last 42 over 10 games dating to May 3.

While Reynolds for years has hit almost exclusively in the No. 2 spot, Kelly slid him down to third Tuesday in an attempt to shake things up and jumpstart the Pirates’ entire batting order.

But the shuffling was, ultimately, unsuccessful, particularly for Reynolds.

In many ways, the Pirates’ team-wide offensive woes mirror those of Reynolds.

Moving forward, the Pirates are hopeful that Reynolds — as well as many of the team’s hitters — can snap out of his current funk.

“I had a good conversation with him before the game (Tuesday), talking with the staff about as we go forward, what’s the plan,” Kelly said. “There have been discussions. Ultimately, nobody feels worse than Bryan does right now, being in that situation, going up there and grinding it out. He wants to come through, find a way to slow it down and get back to the Bryan Reynolds that we all know.”