On DL, Hillcats catcher Reyes pursuing coaching career

For Milver Reyes, the work day starts early. He heads to City Stadium by noon to lift weights and run, well before the rest of the team arrives. At 4 p.m., he suits up and takes batting practice with the rest of the Hillcats. But unless catchers Kris Watts or Joel Collins are injured, Reyes won’t get a single at-bat this season, at least not in Lynchburg.

Reyes is on the disabled list, but he’s not really injured. He has a career .186 batting average in nine minor-league seasons, leaving some to wonder why Reyes would come back to toil in High-A baseball for another season.

Reyes has different dreams now. His clearest path to the major leagues may not be behind the plate, but in a coaching box. That’s where you’ll find the 27-year-old, Venezuelan-born Reyes every night, coaching first base for the Hillcats.

When Reyes signed with the Pirates as a free agent before the season began, it was with a distinct career path in mind. Reyes wanted to coach, and the best way to do that is to transition from player to coach in the lower levels of the minor leagues. And that’s how Reyes the catcher became Reyes the player-coach.

“It‘s a great opportunity the Pirates have given to me,” said the soft-spoken Reyes, who first began playing in Lynchburg as a 19-year-old in 2001. “It‘s something to keep me in shape and prepared to play, if they need me to. But also, I‘m learning the process. The coaching staff here is awesome. I‘m learning a lot of stuff from them. It‘s a good thing.”

In essence, Reyes works two jobs for the Hillcats. Though he’s unlikely to play in Lynchburg, he has to stay ready in case another team in the organization needs a catcher for a spot start. Double-A Altoona had such a need last month, and Reyes went to Pennsylvania for a week, played twice for the Curve and went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

But Reyes is much more interested in learning the intricacies of the game. By coaching first every day, he’s learned how to relay signs to players. He works with the catching staff, an invaluable tool for Hillcats manager P.J. Forbes, who said catching is the weakest part of his managerial resume. Reyes also has picked up tips from Forbes on how to relate to players and how to placate a clubhouse of athletes with numerous personality types.

“He‘s been outstanding,” said Forbes who, in his sixth season as a minor-league manager, and has a player-coach at his disposal for the first time. “You know he‘d like to be playing. But he‘s handled it with the utmost professionalism. He‘s really made it easy on me.”

Reyes, who has nine years of minor-league experience, has also been an invaluable resource for the Hillcats’ young catchers. Watts, 24, and Collins, 23, have a combined seven years of minor-league experience between them. They treat Reyes like a teammate but respect him like a coach.

“Milver is priceless to have around,” Watts said. “His knowledge of catching and baseball itself, the things that he sees that nobody else sees, is huge. I love having him around. He’s a great guy, great teammate, great coach. Just a great all-around person.”

The dual role makes for a lot of long days for Reyes. He’ll often meet with the coaching staff after games to discuss the night’s events and to prepare for the next day’s games. Reyes doesn’t mind the extra work. He almost looks at his role in Lynchburg as a coaching internship.

“Right now, when I see the signs, now I know the reason why (Forbes) gives that sign,” Reyes said. “I’m learning why he puts this play on or that play on. It helps me out, learning how to take care of runners. I watch more of the game, what’s going on, taking in everything. … When you’re coaching, you’re inside of the game 100 percent.”

Reyes said he’s always had an interest in coaching, and as his playing career progressed, coaching became more of a reality. Reyes has been a career backup at catcher and has never had more than 200 plate appearances in a single season. So it became clear early that if he wanted to stay in professional baseball, he would have to explore coaching.

Reyes has not only accepted his role. He’s embraced it. And because of that, he’s getting a jump start on a second career.

“I like his mentality, and his knowledge,” Forbes said. “And I hope he’s learning. I hope he’s enjoying that side of it as he’s doing it. He asks a lot of great questions. We’ve had some good conversations. The fact that he does that shows that he takes it seriously, and that he’s into it. And that’s important. If you’re into it mentally, you’re going to be a lot better teacher, and a lot better source of knowledge for these guys.”