Player Profile: Jack Reinheimer

 

     Jack Reinheimer is a 6’0” 177lb. shortstop from East Carolina University Pirates. In 2010, he was rated in the National Top 1000 by Perfect Game and was selected in the 31st round by the Atlanta Braves. In 2011, Jack had the honor of being named to the Conference USA and College Baseball Daily All-Freshman team. Reinheimer was named the All-Star Game MVP of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). After his summer playing for the Newport Gulls concluded, Perfect Game ranked him the 9th best prospect of the NECBL. In 2012, Jack was third on his Pirates team with 11 doubles, third on the team with 89 total bases, and second on the team with 9 stolen bases. For Bourne this summer, he is hitting .273, is third on the team in doubles with 5, second on the team with 4 stolen bases, and has the least amount of strikeouts (20) among the Braves with at least 100 at-bats.

     On top of being an excellent hitter to slot in the second spot in the line-up, Jack is a strong-armed shortstop who covers a lot of range. Reinheimer runs extremely well from the right side. In fact, I have timed him around 4.22 (above major league speed), and he has legged out several infield hits. He has proven to be great at hitting the ball on the ground to the right side of the infield (spray chart below). This is an excellent skill to execute a hit and run, move runners along, and aid in a runner scoring from third base. I included some swings and misses and foul balls to show how much plate coverage Jack possesses. He doesn’t allow a lot get past him with two strikes. As for his mechanics, Reinheimer starts with an open stance and his hands high at his ear level. He closes his stance and then uses a toe tap to move his hands into the hitter’s slot. He shifts his weight back before his swing, and hits with his weight well-balanced between both legs. His hands are quick, and his hands take a direct path to the baseball. I also want the viewer to note that he stays balanced throughout his swing, and he has excellent balance through his two-handed follow through. The swing I slowed down was an example of his ability to hit the ball, hard on the ground, the opposite way. You can see Jack’s hands get inside the baseball, and this adds to his value as a top of the order hitter. Jack will continue to be a valued piece in the Bourne Braves line-up as the second hitter and in the field at shortstop. His success will weigh greatly on the Braves ability to earn that final spot in the Cape Cod League’s Western Division Playoffs.