Jeff Reynolds (minors01)

Jeffrey Reynolds

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 195 lb.
• School Potomac State College

• Born January 27, 1960 in Charleston, WV USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Jeff Reynolds played 10 years in the minor leagues, four of them at AAA. He hit 20 or more home runs four times in his career, made four All-Star teams and was co-MVP of a league once.

Reynolds was taken by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the January section of the 1980 amateur draft. He debuted that season with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees (.238/~.368/.333) and Oneonta Yankees (.283/~.369/.438, .900 fielding at third base), leading the New York-Penn League in RBI (56) and making the league All-Star team at third.

Jeff moved on to the Greensboro Hornets in 1981 and hit .306/~.364/.542 with 83 runs, 28 doubles, 26 home runs and 103 RBI. He led the South Atlantic League in total bases (257), RBI and game-winning RBI (16). He was 4th in average, second in slugging behind Dan Murphy and second to Tom Dodd in homers. He was named to the league All-Star team at third and split MVP honors with Murphy.

In 1982, Jeff started the season with the Nashville Sounds but was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays with Dave Revering and Dodd on May 5 in exchange for John Mayberry Sr. Reynolds shifted then to the Knoxville Blue Jays. Between the two Southern League clubs, he batted .242/~.313/.446 with 71 runs, 30 doubles, 20 HR and 113 strikeouts. He led SL third basemen in putouts (91), assists (294), errors (35) and tied for the lead in double plays (31). He made his third All-Star team in three years, named as the top man at the hot corner in the Southern League.

With the Syracuse Chiefs in 1983, Reynolds made his AAA debut, ready to step in if Rance Mulliniks had needed replacing at the major league level. Unfortunately, Jeff struggled, leading the International League with 123 strikeouts while only hitting 13 homers and batting .219/~.277/.348 and fielding .914.

Kelly Gruber was up in Syracuse by 1984 so Jeff went back to Knoxville, where he hit .251/~.288/.432 and had no set position. By 1985, Reynolds was in the Montréal Expos chain, playing for the Jacksonville Expos. Jeff batted .259/~.320/.407 with 30 doubles, 14 homers and 118 strikeotus. In 1986, he returned to his form of four years prior and then some with a .268/~.321/.488 campaign. He scored 85, drove in 113, banged out 36 doubles and homered 29 times. He was two doubles behind Southern League leader Brick Smith and second in homers, two behind Glenallen Hill and one ahead of old home run rival and trade fellow Dodd. He was second to Terry Steinbach in RBI and made his fourth All-Star team at third base.

Back in AAA in 1987, Reynolds was on the Indianapolis Indians and batted .245/~.294/.445 with 21 homers and 76 RBI, both leading the American Association champions. In 1988, Jeff moved on to the Detroit Tigers organization, playing for the Toledo Mud Hens. He only hit .204/~.242/.350 with 108 strikeouts in 460 AB, 23 walks and 15 home runs.

Jeff concluded his playing career in 1989 with Nashville, putting up a .229/~.286/.420 line in 65 games as an OF/1B.

Sources: 1981-1985 and 1989 Baseball Guides, 1986-1987 Baseball America Statistics Reports, 1988-1991 Baseball Almanacs, 1984 International League Record Book

Notable Achievements

• 1981 Player of the Year South Atlantic League Greensboro Hornets