Former Cavalier Reynolds to Represent USA in Olympic Qualifying Tournament

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Aug. 23, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – – Former Virginia Baseball player Mark Reynolds has been selected to the USA Olympic Qualifying team, which consists of players in the professional baseball minor league system. Team USA will play in the Olympic Qualifying tournament, Aug. 25-Sept. 5 in Havana, Cuba.

Reynolds, who plays for the Tennessee Smokies – the Arizona Diamondback Double-AA affiliate, joins current teammate Greg Smith and former Smokies’ outfielder Skip Schumaker on the team.

Reynolds started the minor league season with the Lancaster JetHawks before making the move up to the Tennessee Smokies. Before he left for Team USA, he was amongst the national leaders in MiLB this year in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage. Reynolds was third in homers (31), fourth with 98 RBIs and tops in slugging, with a slugging percentage of .633.

Minor league rules state that a player must be on the roster on the final day of the season, Reynolds and Smith have received a special waiver from the commissioner of baseball that will allow them to play if the Smokies make the postseason.

Reynolds helped lead Virginia to a No. 1 seed in the 2004 NCAA Charlottesville Regional. He hit .274 and was second on the team in home runs (11) and third in RBIs (48). Reynolds was named second team All-ACC.