Mark Reynolds! 13-Year MLB Vet on Travel Ball to the Big Leagues
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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 infielder, delivering 298 home runs and postseason pop. His career spanned the D-backs, Orioles, Yankees, Cardinals, Rockies, and Nationals, with signature moments from NLDS homers to a 10-RBI night in Washington. He remains a respected voice on clubhouse culture and hitting mindset.
️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:
The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As veteran broadcasters, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
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38 episodes