BRADENTON, Fla. -- As far as Pirates to emulate, why wouldn’t Jack Suwinski choose veteran Bryan Reynolds?

The two struck up a sort of friendship last season during Suwinski’s first year in the Majors. As outfielders who are among the quieter guys in the clubhouse -- and Reynolds with a wealth of experience and information to share -- it seemed only natural that the pair would join forces at some point.

That the bond extended onto the field Sunday to the tune of two long homers, as it did during the Pirates' 11-3 loss to the Braves at LECOM Park, makes things that much better.

“I love playing with [Suwinski]. [He’s a] great player, and a good dude, too, off the field. A lot of talent,” said Reynolds, whose fourth-inning homer marked his second in as many games. “I’m looking forward to spending another year with him and playing outfield next to him.”

Reynolds has had a slow start to spring, but it’s little cause for concern for the career .281 hitter and last season’s team MVP. The Pirates know he can produce; Reynolds’ 27 homers led all National League center fielders in 2022, and he was a Silver Slugger finalist. So despite this being a contract season for him, this is also a low-stress spring that he’ll spend finding his stride, readjusting to the grind and, whenever he has a moment, helping out guys like Suwinski any way he can.

“It’s an honor playing next to him,” Suwinski said. “I know what he’s done and what he can do, and I know what he brings to this team, and we’re thrilled to have him. I’m excited to play next to him.”

Reynolds’ most recent home run came with one out in the fourth inning and marked the Pirates’ first hit of the game. Pittsburgh has talked early and often about needing to improve its offense in 2023 after finishing with the second-lowest team batting average in MLB (.222) last season, and for Reynolds, part of his contribution has included returning to his heavier bat these past two games.

With a pair of crushed dingers now under his belt (Saturday’s long ball traveled an estimated 405 feet, per Statcast), it’s hard to say Reynolds isn’t pulling his weight.

Suwinski, meanwhile, wasn’t far behind on Sunday. His first home run gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead, the only advantage they had in the game. The 24-year-old, who finished tied for the NL rookie lead alongside Atlanta's Michael Harris II with 19 home runs last season, is hitting .278 (5-for-18) through nine spring games.

“Bryan has done a really nice job in terms of his conversations, especially when he's hitting left-handed, about what they're going to see and how they're going to be attacked,” manager Derek Shelton said. “I think that just speaks to who Bryan Reynolds is. So [he's] a pretty good guy to look up to.”

Keller ends on a high note
Mitch Keller recovered from allowing a home run on the third pitch of his outing to limit the Braves to a pair of runs on three hits and one walk during his fourth Grapefruit League start.

The 26-year-old, who said recently that an Opening Day nod “would be a huge honor to me,” said he felt a difference when he went out for the third inning, and it showed: Keller retired the side on nine pitches, fanning two, before hitting the fourth with a full head of steam.

“That last inning, I felt like my energy and aggressiveness was going more through the catcher,” Keller said. “… Not that I wasn’t being aggressive. I think I was just pulling off a little bit, was leaking stuff and falling behind.”

All told, Keller registered nine consecutive outs to end his day, striking out four of the last five batters he faced, right through the heart of the Braves’ order.

“The one thing that really stands out is in [the second inning], before that turns into a three- or four-run inning, all of a sudden he gets the ground ball to [third baseman Jared] Triolo -- that's a double-play ball, because he's able to throw the sinker. So there are definitely signs of growth there,” Shelton said. “I thought his stuff, especially the last two innings, was really good.”