Could All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds be the next prominent Pirate to switch positions?

There was something different about the pregame drills Bryan Reynolds was doing along the left-field line Sunday, as the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star outfielder was on his knees fielding grounders in foul territory.

That Pirates bench coach Don Kelly used a fungo bat to hit balls to Reynolds while wearing an infielder’s glove prompted speculation that another prominent Pirates player could be making a position switch.

After Oneil Cruz moved from shortstop to center field late last month, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Pirates could consider moving Reynolds to first base in the future. It could help extend the major league career of Reynolds, who signed an eight-year, $106.75 million contract through 2030 and will turn 30 in January.

Reynolds, however, doesn’t see it happening before this season ends.

“I highly doubt that,” Reynolds told TribLive. “I’m just trying to increase some general athleticism, help me all the way around on the field. It’s fun, a little change of pace. What do we got, two weeks left? That would be something.”

Neither Reynolds nor Pirates manager Derek Shelton ruled out the possibility of a position switch next year. First base is a position of need this offseason, with Rowdy Tellez’s one-year contract expiring. Moving Reynolds could be a long-term solution at a position that has been a revolving door: Twenty-two players have started there for the Pirates since Josh Bell was traded in December 2020.

“I mean, maybe,” said Reynolds, who leads the Pirates with a .282 batting average, .348 on-base percentage, 22 home runs, 85 RBIs and an .805 OPS. “We haven’t really had any conversations so much about it, but if it’s going to help me be a better athlete in the (batter’s) box or in the outfield, then there’s no harm in having a little fun with it.”

That Kelly and infield coach Mendy Lopez were working with Reynolds, who took grounders on both his knees and his feet, indicates that he wasn’t just fooling around. It could be an offseason project for Reynolds, if the Pirates decide to go in that direction.

“If we did ever consider it, it would be one of those things — and that’s why we’re doing it now — to have Donnie and Mendy able to watch him,” Shelton said. “So it’s not just he calls from Nashville and says, ‘Hey, I think I can play first.’ No, that’s not how that works.”

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper, the 2021 NL MVP, made a seamless transition from the outfield to first base late last season after returning from Tommy John surgery. Harper already is one of the NL’s top players at the position, with 4 defensive runs saved through 129 games this season.

Over the past three seasons, Reynolds has played all three outfield positions, starting 125 games in center in 2022, 112 games in left in ’23 and 16 games in right this year. He has played primarily in left field since late May and has minus-4 DRS with six assists and two errors.

Reynolds hasn’t played first base since his freshman year at Vanderbilt and said the ground ball work is designed to help his hands and get him in a rhythm of dealing with hops while on the move in the outfield.

Shelton said Kelly came up with a spring training drill three years ago where players switch positions in practice, with outfielders taking ground balls in the dirt while infielders catch fly balls in the grass.

“I thought it was the worst idea of all time, and our players love it probably more than anything,” Shelton said. “So for three years Reynolds has been telling me he wants to play the infield.”

Although Shelton called the idea of Reynolds playing first base anytime soon “very highly unexpected,” he admitted that he didn’t expect to play Jared Triolo in right field, either. In addition to Tellez, Connor Joe and rookie Billy Cook as starters, the Pirates have used Triolo and catcher Yasmani Grandal at first base late in games this season.

And the Pirates showed their willingness to make an in-season position switch by having the 6-foot-7 Cruz debut in center Aug. 28 after he committed 24 errors at shortstop. Reynolds sounds open to a move to first base in the future, with one caveat.

“Yeah, as long as I’m good and I’m able to do it,” Reynolds said. “Whatever helps us win more games next year.”