Lugnuts Player Spotlight: Reggie Pruitt
LANSING, Mich. via TORONTO, Ont. - Lansing Lugnuts outfielder Reggie Pruitt had a relaxing offseason after his third year of professional baseball.In 2018, the native of Kennesaw, Georgia, stole an astonishing 37 bases, adding 13 doubles and three triples to go along with a .211/.300/.304 slash line in 89 games
LANSING, Mich. via TORONTO, Ont. - Lansing Lugnuts outfielder Reggie Pruitt had a relaxing offseason after his third year of professional baseball.
In 2018, the native of Kennesaw, Georgia, stole an astonishing 37 bases, adding 13 doubles and three triples to go along with a .211/.300/.304 slash line in 89 games for the Lugs. After a hugely impactful season, he decided to take a break, travelling to Texas and around his home state for the first two months.
"I decompressed and took it down a bit," he said of his offseason. "After that, I really hunkered down and started to work, especially on my hitting, because that's really what I need to work on."
And work on his hitting he did.
Any observer would notice that Pruitt, more patient and connected at the plate, has greatly improved his ability to make contact and hit to all fields. After 80 games, his batting average has increased by 47 points since last year, with his on-base percentage and slugging percentage also rising steadily. Of course, he continues to be a demon on the basepaths.
Notably, Pruitt worked out with Colorado Rockies All-Star Charlie Blackmon, Boston Red Sox rookie Michael Chavis and Washington Nationals infielder Carter Kieboom, among others.
"We know how hard it is to play this game and to be a certain age," he said. "I feel like that did a lot of help for me this offseason."
Though his approach changed slightly after an offseason of learning and conversation, perhaps the biggest change for Pruitt this season was the fact that he now wears glasses while playing.
While he never had any massive vision problems, it was suggested to him in Spring Training that wearing glasses (or contacts, which Pruitt personally dislikes) might make things a little brighter and easier to see.
Seeing as this is his second season in the Midwest League, Pruitt is facing different challenges this time around, mainly finding consistency in his swing and approach. With the help of hitting coach Logan Bone, he's lowered his hands and slightly adjusted the path of his stride.
"I originally had a high hand 'load', I guess you could say," Pruitt remarked of his swing. "When I took my stride, my hands would be dropping. When I stride now, my hands go up, it's kind of like a lever, just reversed it."
Because of these changes, Pruitt has been able to control his strikeout numbers, making more solid contact with tough pitches in various different situations, something he attributes to both the position of his hands, and a sharper eye at the plate when it comes to high heat.
Though he admits that he feels a little "antsy" on the basepaths, he continues to be a force to be reckoned with in terms of stealing bases. In sole possession of the Midwest League lead in stolen bases with 36 (ten more than the next most prolific base stealer), Pruitt continues to feel good about both his abilities and his progress.
"That's a part of the game that I'm really confident in," he noted. "I know that even if I get thrown out, I'll stride back up and try again. When I get good preparation on my jumps, which me and [Lugnuts position coach] Dave Pano work on all the time, it definitely leads to success on the field."
One of the league's top defenders as well, Pruitt always likes to help out his pitchers, making both the highlight reel and routine plays. Simply put, Pruitt's goal is to get outs and minimize the amount of baserunners that his hurler has to deal with.
As he improves his offensive prowess, Reggie Pruitt, one of the most consistent and energetic players on the roster, remains a defensive wizard. With the speed of a sprinter and the improving bat of an up-and-coming outfielder, he remains one of the system's most intriguing names.
"This group of guys is hilarious," he joked about his team. "We may not be as old as the guys last year, but we definitely have that competitive youth. It's never a dull moment. We always want to have fun - win, lose, or draw."
Captains stave off Lugs in matinee, 5-4
EASTLAKE, OH – A ninth-inning rally for the Lansing Lugnuts (23-18) came up one run short in a 5-4 loss to the Lake County Captains (22-19) on Wednesday afternoon at Classic Auto Group Park. Trailing 5-2 against Yorman Gómez entering the ninth, T.J. Schofield-Sam slapped a first-pitch single and Rodney
Echavarria quality, but Lugs fall in opener
EASTLAKE, OH – 19-year-old Steven Echavarria twirled his first career quality start, but the Lansing Lugnuts (23-17) dropped the opener of a six-game series at the Lake County Captains (21-19), 4-2, on Tuesday night at Classic Auto Group Park. Echavarria, MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 Athletics prospect, fired a career high
Roster Moves: Robinson promoted, White activated, Barrera and Dettmer join
The Lansing Lugnuts (23-16) announced the following roster changes, in conjunction with the Athletics: - Pitcher Kyle Robinson is promoted to Midland (Double-A – Texas League) - Pitchers Nathan Dettmer and Diego Barrera received from Stockton (Single-A – California League) - Third baseman Tommy White is activated from the Injured
Nuts double up South Bend, 8-4, win five of six
ANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (23-16) finished off a second dominant series against a West Division foe, topping the South Bend Cubs (10-29), 8-4, on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts improved to 10-2 against the West, winning five of six games at home against the Cubs a
Dickey OF assist closes Lugnuts’ 517 Day victory
LANSING, Mich. – Ivan Brethowr raced for second base as the potential game-tying run, but right fielder Jared Dickey threw him out to close a thrilling 6-5 victory for the Lansing Lugnuts (22-16) over the South Bend Cubs (10-28) on Saturday night at Jackson® Field™. The Nuts have won four
Morel powers 6-run 10th, as Cubs stop Lugs
LANSING, Mich. – Rafael Morel clocked a pair of two-run homers, the second to ignite a six-run 10th inning, and the South Bend Cubs (10-27) came from behind to top the Lansing Lugnuts (21-16), 12-8, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts had won the first three games of
Judkins whiffs eight, Nuts win third straight
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins struck out eight batters in 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (21-15) rode a five-run fifth to a 6-2 win over the South Bend Cubs (9-27) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts’ third straight win in the series dropped South Bend’s
Lugnuts outclass Cubs, 4-1
LANSING, Mich. – In front of 7,532 on the second Grand Slam School Day of the year, the Lansing Lugnuts (20-15) used a four-run seventh to top the South Bend Cubs (9-26), 4-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts won their second straight game in the series, following
Down to their final strike, Nuts rally to walk off the Cubs
LANSING, Mich. – Joshua Kuroda-Grauer forced extra innings with a two-strike, two-out, game-tying, two-run double, and Rodney Green, Jr. lined a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning, culminating a thrilling 7-6 Lansing Locos (19-15) victory over the South Bend Cubs (9-25) on Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™. It was
Penney-wise Whitecaps capture series
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Jack Penney knocked an opposite-field two-run homer and an RBI single to help the West Michigan Whitecaps (21-12) cruise to a 6-2 Mother’s Day victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (18-15) on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps won the final three games of the series,
Elliott homers but Lugnuts fall, 6-3
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Clark Elliott deposited a monstrous home run over onto the roof of a building beyond the right field wall, but Lansing Lugnuts (18-14) dropped a second straight game to the West Michigan Whitecaps (20-12), 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps extended their lead
Whitecaps hold off Lugnuts, 7-6
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam crushed his first home run of the year, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (19-12) rallied past the Lansing Lugnuts (18-13), 7-6, on Friday night at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps retook sole possession of first place in the Midwest League’s East Division with the win.
Echavarria wins first as Nuts tie Caps for 1st
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – 19-year-old Steven Echavarria tied a career high with 4 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional victory, and the Lansing Lugnuts (18-12) doubled up the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-12), 4-2, in a Thursday matinee at LMCU Ballpark, tying the Whitecaps for first place in the
Pitcher of the Week Jump immaculate, triumphant in 3-1 win
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Reigning Midwest League Pitcher of the Week Gage Jump added the latest eye-opening performance to a sensational pro debut, recording an immaculate inning amid an eight-inning, eight-strikeout display of unfettered brilliance, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (17-12) to a 3-1 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-11)
Nuts deny no-hitter, fall 2-0
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam broke up a no-hit bid with a two-out single in the eighth, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-10) completed a 2-0 shutout of the Lansing Lugnuts (16-12) on Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark. The opener of the six-game series was completed in exactly two
Lugnuts' Jump named MWL Pitcher of the Week
LANSING, Mich. – Lansing Lugnuts pitcher Gage Jump has been named the Midwest League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 28-May 4, Minor League Baseball announced Monday afternoon. Jump, 22, allowed only one baserunner, a Jonah Advincula fourth-inning single, in firing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts
Valenzuela delivers rainy walkoff winner in 10th, 1-0
LANSING, Mich. – Sahid Valenzuela slapped a game-winning RBI single through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-11) walked off the Lake County Captains (15-12), 1-0, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The victory clinched a six-game series split with
After Judkins gem, Caps top Nuts in 9th
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins pitched six scoreless innings, but los Picantes de Lake County (15-11) scored three runs in the ninth to best the Lansing Locos (15-11), 3-1, in a Copa Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. Lake County has won two straight games in the series and enters the
Captains strike early, top Lugs 5-3
LANSING, Mich. – Jaison Chourio lined a two-run single in a three-run rally, and the Lake County Captains (14-11) built a five-run lead and defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (15-10), 5-3, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Caps and Lugnuts have split the first four games of the six-game series.
Jump nearly perfect in 5-0 rain-shortened win
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (15-9) jumped out to a quick lead, Cole Conn and Tommy White homered, and Gage Jump turned in his latest dominating performance in a 5-0 rain-shortened victory over the Lake County Captains (13-11) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The game was delayed twice,
Robinson schools Captains in 5-2 Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – In the first Grand Slam School Day of the season, Kyle Robinson twirled six hitless innings while Clark Elliott homered and drilled a two-run single to help the Lansing Lugnuts (14-9) beat the Lake County Captains (13-10), 5-2, in a Wednesday matinee at Jackson® Field™. In the
Captains rout Locos late, 13-5
LANSING, Mich. – The Lake County Captains (13-9) broke open a tight game with six-run rallies in the eighth and ninth innings, romping to a 13-5 win over the Lansing Locos (13-9) on Tuesday evening at Jackson® Field™. Lansing starter Yunior Tur had tossed 5 1/3 strong innings, allowing only
Cedeño HR in 9th helps TinCaps stop Lugnuts, 5-4
LANSING, Mich. – Nerwilian Cedeño slugged a go-ahead two-run homer onto Larch Street in the top of the ninth inning, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-11) edged the Lansing Lugnuts (13-8), 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The result ended a four-game TinCaps losing streak, though Lansing still won
Down 7-0, Lugs rally to win, move into 1st place
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (13-7) gave up seven runs in the first three innings, scored nine runs in the next three innings, and won their fourth straight game over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-11), 9-7, in a Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. With the win, the Lugnuts clinched
Jump fans 13 in LSU-driven Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – LSU teammates Gage Jump struck out 13 batters in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Tommy White delivered a first-inning RBI double and an eighth-inning RBI single, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (12-7) to a 3-1 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-10) on Friday night at Jackson® Field™.