Freshman shortstop Mark Reynolds has developed a habit of showing up earlier than expected.
Last June, Reynolds arrived in Charlottesville to play baseball - leading Virginia Beach's First Colonial High School team in a state quarterfinal matchup against Albemarle High School.
This spring, Reynolds first won the starting shortstop job and has blossomed into one of the team's top hitters, making an impact much earlier than expected.
Reynolds said that Virginia coach Dennis Womack "told me I'd have the opportunity to compete for a starting job. My expectations coming in were not that high. I just came in and tried to show my stuff in the fall and early spring."
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After struggling early at the plate, batting .125 in his first five games, Reynolds has since hit .333 (33-for-99) with seven home runs and 20 RBIs over a span of 28 games. He has absolutely exploded in his last eight games, hitting .500 (15-for-30) with four homers and seven RBIs.
"It's different than high school ball," Reynolds said. "The pitching is much faster, but I'm enjoying myself more as the season goes on. I've been seeing the ball really well."
While he has excelled at the plate, Reynolds has struggled defensively, committing a team-high 16 errors this season.
"He's coming along really well," Virginia senior captain Dan Street said. "He's got a lot of talent. Mark knows what he's got to do."
Reynolds has certainly put his talent to use on offense, ranking in the top four on the team in every statistical category. His seven homeruns place him second and his 22 RBIs are third behind Street and junior Robert Word. He also trails both Street and Word in doubles with six, slugging percentage (.525) and total bases (62).
"I was a power guy in high school and with hitting the weight room, it should continue," Reynolds said.
Reynolds plans to ride his baseball career as long as it carries him, whether or not it continues to professional baseball
"Like any player I have aspirations to play pro baseball," he said. "If not, getting my degree" is very important to for me.
Reynolds' high school baseball resume impresses at a glance. He played in the Commonwealth Games of Virginia three times, winning the gold medal his senior year. He played in the Top Gun Showcase and the Team One East Coast Showcase and was also named to the AAU All-Tournament team.
Somehow his athletic skills stretch behind his top sport. He was a four-time letterman in basketball and golf as well as baseball. Despite this success, Reynolds is not a take-charge player.
"I'm real laid back and easy going," Reynolds said. "I just kind of go with the flow."
That flow could make Reynolds a special player, according to Street.
"He's getting the opportunity to play as a freshman and that's huge," Street said of his infield mate. "For Mark, the sky is the limit"
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