NOTEBOOK: REYNOLDS HITS THE NEXT LEVEL SLUGGER'S BIG NUMBERS EARN ASSIGNMENT TO TENNESSEE.

Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Special to the Daily News

LANCASTER -- Utilityman Mark Reynolds had to play himself into the starting lineup at the start of the season. He has since played himself to the next level.

The versatile slugger was assigned to Double-A Tennessee in the Southern League after putting up monstrous numbers at Lancaster, where he led the California League in each Triple Crown category, batting .342 with 23 homers and 77 RBIs.

``He came here as a utility player and that just goes to show that somebody's bat can do a lot of talking,'' JetHawks manager Brett Butler said. ``Sky's the limit for him. He'll be able to determine how far he goes by how hard he works.''

Reynolds suffered an ankle injury sliding into second base in Saturday's 12-5 victory over Inland Empire. He left the game and did not play in Sunday's game for precautionary reasons, Butler said.

Reynolds' injury is described as day-to-day.

He is expected to join Tennessee on Tuesday in time for a mandatory workout on the last day of its all-star break.

The JetHawks lead the league in all meaningful offensive statistical categories with a .300 team average, 96 homers and 515 run scored, but face a tough challenge with Reynolds no longer in the mix.

``There are times where you've got guys that you can feed off of, and when they're gone then other guys have to pick up the slack,'' Butler said.

Butler said a player he could not identify would be assigned to Lancaster from Tennessee.

New addition:

Pitcher Cody Evans struggled in his JetHawks debut Sunday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings of Sunday's 11-9 loss to Inland Empire.

Evans was assigned to Lancaster from low-A South Bend (Ind.), where he was 5-7 with a 3.02 ERA and was especially dominant in his past five starts, striking out 28 batters and allowing three runs 7/8 two earned 7/8 on 19 hits and six walks in 35 innings.

Evans takes Kellen Raab's spot in the rotation.

Raab, who has been in the rotation since Opening Day, was 5-8 with a 7.56 ERA in 17 starts. He had one of his best outings Friday in a 16-3 victory over Inland Empire, striking out four batters and allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in 6 2/3 innings.

Raab, a 24-year-old left-hander ranked 28th by Baseball America among the parent Arizona Diamondbacks' top organizational prospects, will pitch out of the bullpen, a role that better suits his stuff, Butler said.

``This gives us a chance to see whether he can be a swing-type guy,'' Butler said. ``His best shot of getting to the big leagues is probably out of the bullpen.''

Future's-watch:

JetHawks outfielder Carlos Gonzalez went 1 for 4 for the World team in an 8-5 loss to team USA in Sunday's prospect showcase Futures Game at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Gonzalez was expected to rejoin the JetHawks on Monday in time for the first of a three-game series against the Storm at Lake Elsinore.

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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