Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan Reynolds Will Start in Left Field on Opening Day

After months of trade talks and contract extension negotiations, Bryan Reynolds will play left field on Opening Day for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates manager Derek Shelton told reporters Wednesday. The Pirates will open the season against the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Mitch Keller will take the mound for the Pirates, with Hunter Greene receiving the start for the Reds.

After months of trade talks and contract extension negotiations, Bryan Reynolds will play left field on Opening Day for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirates manager Derek Shelton told reporters Wednesday. The Pirates will open the season against the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Mitch Keller will take the mound for the Pirates, with Hunter Greene receiving the start for the Reds.

Reynolds played just one game in left field last season, appearing in 127 games in center in 2022. Center field has been Reynolds' primary position since 2021.

Jack Suwinski is expected to start in center field, with Reynolds in left, as Suwinski received a large amount of playing time at the position throughout spring training.

Reynolds is currently under contract through 2023, and is under club control through 2025. Reynolds will receive $6.75 million from the club this season.

The Pirates have engaged in extension talks with Reynolds throughout the offseason. With Opening Day on the horizon, the club is still working towards an extension, but has yet to been able to reach an agreement with the 28-year-old. Reynolds was named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2021. That same season, he finished 11th in National League MVP voting.

The Pirates acquired Reynolds, Kyle Crick and international bonus slot money from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Pirates great Andrew McCutchen, back in January 2018. McCutchen was entering the final year of his contract. Five years later, McCutchen returned home, signing a one-year, $5 million deal to play in Pittsburgh. McCutchen and Reynolds are now teammates.

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