Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson has been diagnosed with a low-grade oblique strain and will open the 2025 season on the injured list, reports Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. He underwent an MRI yesterday after experiencing discomfort in his back and side, and the imaging has revealed a strain. The team has not yet provided an expected timetable for Stephenson’s return, though it’s not uncommon for players to require around a month to recover from even Grade 1 oblique strains.
It’s a tough blow for the Reds to start the season. After a down season in 2023, Stephenson delivered a nice rebound effort in 2024, slashing .258/.338/.444 while popping a career-best 19 home runs. That marks four times in parts of five MLB seasons that the now-28-year-old former first-round pick has been comfortably above average at the plate. He’s a career .267/.343/.427 hitter, which is solid production for any position but especially for a catcher, where the majority of his peers are below-average bats with a more defensive-minded approach to the game.
With Stephenson headed to the injured list, the door will open for offseason trade acquisition Jose Trevino to begin the season as Cincinnati’s starting catcher. The Reds picked up Trevino in a trade sending reliever Fernando Cruz to the Yankees.
While the 32-year-old Trevino isn’t much of a threat at the plate — career .236/.275/.362 batting line — he’s a premium defender who won a Platinum Glove as recently as 2022. The veteran’s throwing was uncharacteristically below-average in 2024, as he thwarted just 18.6% of stolen base attempts after sitting at 25.6% and 33.3% in the two prior seasons, respectively. However, Trevino is a plus framer who draws consistently excellent marks for his ability to block pitches in the dirt. He’ll probably hit at the bottom of the Reds’ order while Stephenson is on the mend.
Stephenson and Trevino are currently the only catchers on the Reds’ 40-man roster, so they’ll have to make a move to add a backstop before the season begins. Veteran Austin Wynns, who appeared in seven games for Cincinnati last year, is in camp as a non-roster invitee and stands as the favorite to come up to the roster. Catchers Will Banfield and Michael Trautwein have been in big league camp as well. It’s also possible that the Reds will scoop up a veteran backup option who opts out of a minor league deal elsewhere or grab a catcher off waivers, should anyone hit the wire as teams set their rosters in the latter stages of camp.
Luke Maile could be an option. I do not think he is slated to make the Royal’s. He would be a good temporary option.
That Trevino- Cruz deal is looking better all the time. Likely Fernando wouldn’t have made Reds active roster. Not sure Tito will be comfortable with Wynns as #2 catcher-especially if Ty Steve is out for more than a month.
I thought it was a great deal at the time too ! Yeah Cruz throws flames but he got figured out last year and his era blew up after that happen.
I love Luke Maile… but really need someone who can HIT in that spot, if at all possible.
Grandal is still out there… is he still looking to sign? And is he even in game shape?
Luke already knows the staff, other than Singer. For a short term stop gap, he might be a better fit. Plus, when you get back to the colder weather, seems the pitchers have the early edge. Defense and a well called game is what I’m hoping for.
Either way, it’s (hopefully) only a 2 to 4 game (1 a week) gig.
I’d lean toward grandel too, see if he’s got anything left.reds tried to give him big money not too long ago but he chose the white sox instead
Low grade is hopefully not a long stint on the IL. He had a nice season last year so hopefully he picks up where he left off.
Oblique injuries can range low grade means it’s less significant tear, no bruising, not as much swelling ect
You can never have enough catchers…
Kind of a mild schedule the first couple months with some Giants, Pirates, Marlins and Rockies thrown in. If they can hold their own against Texas, Brewers, Ms and Os they should be okay
Giants will sweep that sorry team
I don’t know. Sweeps are so rare these days. The Giants did sweep two series last year. (Both against the Rockies). That’s just two out of 52 series..
Sure Jan
Think Huff would be a good option from San Francisco. I’m a Brewer fan but gotta admit that Cincinnati has a very nice team.
Don’t know if Giants would trade him considering the rest of their backup options are rather bleak (Max Stassi).
…also a Brewers fan, and I tend to agree. The Reds are being underrated I think. Looking forward to this season, with the Cubs much stronger than they were too. Everyone calls out the NL Central for being ‘weak’ but it’ll be competitive and that’s where the fun comes from.
I don’t get it. How did the chubs get so much better? +Tucker, -Bellinger. What else did they to warrant such optimism?
I’m very impressed with brewers player development! They are one of the top teams in the majors at that and it’s evident by their high percentage of top prospects that pan out when most do not. It’s what has kept them at the top of the division for so many years. They even kept developing a player like wily Aadems even after he was already an all star ! That being said, I think their run comes to an end this season.
@batterseye, compare demographic apples to apples, the NL Central is much better than the ALC !
Well agree with lot that you have to say but hopefully the Brewers prevail. Honestly think it could very well go Brewers, Reds, Pirates, Cubs then Cardinals. Pirates starting rotation is very scary if they go young. I just don’t see Cubs prospects working out as much as the others. CC just isn’t a good young players manager. He has hurt more then helped young players.
I hate it here…
Just type in http://www.somewhereotherthanhere...
The Reds undervalued the importance of a reliable backup catcher. They assumed Stephenson would be healthy despite evidence to the contrary. Cincinnati’s failure to properly hedge against an inevitable catching injury exposes a systemic flaw in how they built their roster, which could cost them wins early in a tight NL Central race.
We go through this exercise every year. They fail to build a complete roster, someone gets hurt and either a bad trade gets made out of desperation or worse, dumpster diving ensues to get by an injury that is misdiagnosed and the season gets away from them while the injured player misses the year.
The Reds are Einstein’s definition of insanity in practice.
Trevino got hit by a pitch today, x-rays “inconclusive”. It gets even worse.