Baltimore Orioles: Mark Reynolds Announces Retirement from MLB

Today, the most common stories in the world of baseball are about ends, and the most recent to announce an end is the former Baltimore Orioles player, Mark Reynolds.

Reynolds is better known for his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, but he did play two season with the Baltimore Orioles. And, during his time with the Birds, he led the MLB in one noteworthy category.

Reynolds shared the announcement on MLB Radio on Sirius XM on Thursday, according to Dana Scott in USA Today.

The big first baseman played for the Orioles for two seasons: 2011 and 2012. The D-backs included him in a trade sent David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio to Arizona. In exchange, the Birds received Reynolds and John Hester. Reynolds entered free agency at the end of the 2012 season, and was involved in several one-year contracts with various teams.

During his tenure with the Orioles (and with other teams), he was known for his ability to hit home runs and strike out. In fact, in 2011, he lead the MLB with 196 strike outs in his 534 at-bats. His slash in 2011 was .221/.323/.483 with 37 home runs and 75 walks.

In 2012, he had a memorable streak of nine games with nine games between August 31 and September 8. During this time, he did not hit any on September 1, 3, or 7, but filled in those days with two-home-run games on August 31 and September 2 and 6. In 2012, he hit a slash of .221/.335/.429 with 23 home runs and 73 walks.

At age 36, Reynolds’ retirement announcement isn’t much of a surprise. He saw time in 2018 with the Washington Nationals and in 2019 with the Rockies, he wasn’t a player that teams were clamoring to sign. He usually filled in when better players were injured.

Unfortunately for Reynolds, teams are looking for players who can do more than hit home runs and scoop a ball at first. Youth, speed, agility, and power are the desirable traits. Sadly, this left Reynolds two home runs short of joining the 300 Club.

More from Orioles News

• Baltimore Orioles Sign RP Mychal Givens
• Gunnar Henderson: Destroyer of Four-Seam Fastballs
• Which Current Baltimore Orioles Pitchers Have the Best Curveballs?
• Orioles News: Should the O’s Pursue Eovaldi? + More MLB News
• Should the Baltimore Orioles Consider Signing Nathan Eovaldi?

Reynolds played for 13 seasons. His career slash was .236/.328/.453. His only offensive records in the MLB are four consecutive seasons leading the league in strike outs. Between 2008 and 2011, he recorded 834 strikeouts.

He did have a few defensive records, too; as he recorded the most errors at first base in three seasons, including 2011 with the Birds. He recorded the most errors at third in 2008 and 2011. On a positive note, he had the best range of any first basemen in the NL in 2017.

In 2009, with the D-backs, he received enough MVP votes to finish 20th in the race, tying with Yunel Escobar. Albert Pujols won the NL MVP that season.

He never played in a World Series game, but he did play in a handful of playoff games and series. In 2012, he played in the Orioles Wild Card Game against the Rangers. He did not score any runs, but instead recorded two strikeouts. He also played in five ALDS games against the Yankees in 2012, where he batted .158/.238/.158.