We sit down with Mark Reynolds — a 13-year MLB veteran with 298 career home runs — for a candid ride through the moments that still give fans goosebumps. We revisit the Virginia Beach superteam roots with David Wright, Ryan Zimmerman, and the Upton brothers; the late-night call-up to the D-backs and a debut that never looked back; and the surreal, cinematic first swing as a Yankee at Fenway. We go inside the pinstripes with Derek Jeter’s relentless standards, Mariano Rivera’s unanimous-worthy grace, and the clubhouse code only players see — from mound visits to secret defensive signs. Reynolds relives NLDS home runs vs the Cubs, the viral 10-RBI night in Washington, and a spring-training missile from Gary Sheffield that literally knocked off his glove. It is legacy, humor, and human detail in equal measure — the kind of behind-the-scenes baseball storytelling our audience loves. Tap in, and bring a friend who grew up on Bonds, Jeter, and October drama.
Timestamps:
(00:00:00) - Intro and Mark Reynolds joins the show
(00:00:30) - Virginia Beach youth “superteam” with Wright, Zimmerman, Uptons, Cuddyer
(00:03:21) - Youth positions, reps over roles, and coaching his kids today
(00:05:18) - UVA at 17, early drug test consent story, pairing with Zimmerman
(00:06:31) - Reuniting with Zimmerman in the majors — surfing buddies to teammates again
(00:08:54) - Two kids from Tidewater hitting 3-4 together in Arizona
(00:10:27) - Small-world baseball: Virginia Beach bonds and perspective
(00:11:07) - Game vs job mindset and the pressures around the diamond
(00:12:50) - Routine evolution, swing timing, and the career-long same swing path
(00:14:28) - Cape Cod League connection with Justin; the circle of baseball life
(00:15:25) - Jackson Holliday staying with the Reynolds family; clubhouse kids to pros
(00:17:29) - Growing up around the game and parenting ballplayers
(00:18:44) - The call-up: Mobile to Denver, thinking AAA, landing in MLB instead
(00:20:14) - Racing to Coors Field; “you’re starting at third” reality check
(00:21:39) - Rookie mistake with Randy Johnson’s card — and redemption after a gem
(00:23:31) - First hits off Aaron Cook and never getting sent down
(00:24:33) - Belonging, first-hit confidence, and the peer moment in the shower
(00:27:30) - Seeing Barry Bonds up close — awe and perspective
(00:28:00) - Yankees 2013: Rivera, Jeter, Yogi in the room — pure legacy
(00:29:31) - First Yankee at-bat at Fenway — home run and a Denzel fist-bump
(00:31:43) - Riding the subway after a rough game — New York honesty 101
(00:33:18) - Mariano’s retirement grace and why it mattered
(00:33:43) - Why Rivera was unanimous — respect for everyone, always
(00:35:16) - Rivera’s meticulous autograph and signing for everyone
(00:36:31) - Team gifts from Mariano — “last to wear 42” jersey framed at home
(00:36:48) - Jeter as “beard police” and protecting Yankee standards
(00:38:09) - Jeter’s perfection lesson: chest-high feeds in Toronto heat
(00:42:33) - NLDS vs Cubs: young and fearless, Marmol HR, sweeping Chicago
(00:46:30) - Bases-loaded approach and “let it rip” mindset explained
(00:49:20) - Mic’d-up baseball fans never hear: mound talk and mental resets
(00:51:33) - JJ Hardy’s pitch tells and positioning by pitch
(00:52:35) - The hidden sign language: coaches, trainers, and subtle cues
(00:55:30) - More dugout codes — even the trainer’s mustache twist signal
(00:57:22) - Rapid fire begins — favorite team culture and city fit
(00:58:04) - Hot corner terror: Stanton, Pujols, and the burners
(01:00:16) - Holding runners at first vs lefty power — survival mode
(01:01:06) - Gary Sheffield line drive knocks off his glove — chaos ensues
(01:02:28) - Best teammates: Jim Thome and Nolan Arenado work like no others
(01:03:34) - 10-RBI game after a walk-off — then pitching the next day
(01:05:31) - Pitcher types he feasted on; Peavy days off incoming
(01:06:35) - Golf career low and offseason truths; sign-off
Key Topics:
Virginia Beach pipeline: Wright, Zimmerman, Upton brothers — youth to MLB
MLB call-up, debut in Denver, and belonging at the top level
Yankees stories: Fenway HR, Jeter’s standards, Rivera’s unanimous legacy
Postseason moments: NLDS homers vs Cubs and playing young and free
Clubhouse code: mic’d-up reality, secret signs, and in-game psychology
10-RBI night with Washington and the surreal back-to-back weekend
About Mark Reynolds:
Mark Reynolds played 13 MLB seasons as a corner inf
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