Tyler Stephenson Starting Rehab Assignment On Tuesday
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) is starting his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer. Stephenson worked out with Louisville over the weekend and is now ready to return to game action this week. The 28-year-old backstop hasn't played in a game since spring training in mid-March and opened the year on the 10-day injured list, so the Reds won't rush him back. In the meantime, veteran Jose Trevino will continue to operate as Cincy's primary catcher at the major-league level, with Austin Wynns backing him up. Although he has yet to make is 2025 debut, Stephenson is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues as one of the better power-hitting catchers in the league when he's healthy. He had a career-high 19 long balls and drove in 66 runs in 138 games in 2024.
Tyler Stephenson Could Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) could start a minor-league rehab assignment next Tuesday, according to manager Terry Francona. Stephenson is getting closer to making his 2025 debut with the Reds after suffering a left-oblique strain in mid-March in spring training. Barring a setback to his oblique when he resumes playing in games, the 28-year-old backstop could rejoin the big-league squad late next week. Stephenson is the Reds' starting catcher when healthy and should be stashed in all fantasy formats right now. Until he's activated from the injured list, Cincy will continue to roll with veteran Jose Trevino as their No. 1 catcher, with Austin Wynns backing him up. Last year in 138 games played, Stephenson hit a career-high 19 home runs and drove in a career-high 66 runs while slashing .258/.338/.444.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) was "revved up" after his MRI exam on Monday, which yielded favorable results. Stephenson will now be more aggressive in his recovery from a left-oblique injury that he suffered in spring training and caused him to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list. The 28-year-old backstop will need to eventually go on at least a short minor-league rehab assignment, but barring a setback with his oblique injury, he could be able to make his season debut before April ends. When he's healthy, Stephenson will be Cincy's primary catcher, and he has appeal as a No. 1 catcher in all fantasy leagues. Until he returns, the Reds will continue to move forward with veteran Jose Trevino as their starter behind the dish with Austin Wynns backing him up.
Tyler Stephenson To Open Year On Injured List With Low-Grade Oblique Strain
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) will be forced to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a low-grade oblique strain. The Reds weren't too worried about Stephenson's injury when he initially was announced as dealing with a sore back, and although it shouldn't be a long-term injury, it will keep the 28-year-old from playing on Opening Day and in early April. He will now miss the rest of spring training and will hope that he doesn't suffer any setbacks when he eventually starts to ramp up baseball activities. It means that Jose Trevino will now open the year as Cincy's starting catcher, with Austin Wynns likely backing him up. After a bounce-back 2024 season in which the former first-rounder hit .258 with career-highs in homers (19) and RBI (66), Stephenson will now fall outside the top-10 fantasy catchers due to his oblique injury.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (back) is going for an MRI exam after being scratched from Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Texas Rangers due to lower-back pain, according to manager Terry Francona. The Reds initially said that they thought Stephenson "was going to be fine." The starting backstop has hit .227 with a home run and four walks in 22 official spring training at-bats this year. If his injury turns out to be serious enough to land him on the injured list to open the regular season, Jose Trevino would be forced into regular playing time behind the dish in Cincy. Fantasy managers will want to check back later for Stephenson's MRI results, but for now he should be considered day-to-day. The 28-year-old had a resurgent 2024 campaign with career-highs in homers (19), RBI (66) and runs (69) and should be considered a top-10 fantasy catcher as long as his back injury isn't anything serious.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (back) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to "lower-to-middle back pain." Manager Terry Francona noted that Stephenson will be "fine" and that it did not make sense to have him suit up. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team may opt to keep him sidelined for a few days. However, it appears this injury is not serious and will not put him in danger of missing Opening Day. While the 28-year-old kept out of action, Jose Trevino should see most of the catching duties. Last season, Stephenson enjoyed a career-season as he went deep 19 times and held a .258/.338/.444 line. He generated a strong 43.9 percent hard-hit rate with a 90.2 mph average exit velocity. He should be viewed as a solid low-end No. 1 catcher in all formats playing in a favorable hitting park.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson greeted Mitch Keller with a solo home run in the first inning of Friday's 8-3 win over the Pirates, then collected two more hits off of the righty before Keller departed in the bottom of the fourth, ultimately being charged with eight earned runs in the outing. The other two hits were a single and a double, as Stephenson finished 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored in the contest. It was the 28-year-old's third multi-hit game in his last four, and overall he's been a Top-10 option at catcher for fantasy. The former first-round draft pick owns a .265-19-64-67-1 line on the season with a .347 wOBA and 117 wRC+.
Tyler Stephenson Smashes Solo Shot, Records Multi-Hit Game
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson recorded a multi-hit game on Friday night, including a solo shot in the first inning, in the Reds' 6-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 436 foot bomb off Pirates starter Bailey Falter was Stephenson's 17th on the season. The 28-year-old has been on a bit of a hot streak in August, hitting for a .943 OPS and smashing six of his 17 homers during the month. Stephenson looks to be a solid under-the-radar candidate for fantasy managers to add for their playoff push, especially with Stephenson's current hot streak in August providing a ton of value. He should continue to get plenty of playing time for the Reds as they work to find their way back into the playoff race. Look for Stephenson to be back in the lineup tomorrow when the Reds face off against Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jake Woodford.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson is taking the day off on Thursday in the series opener against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Luke Maile is doing the catching for left-hander Nick Lodolo and will bat ninth against Pirates rookie right-hander Paul Skenes. Despite the fact that Stephenson is currently in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, the Reds will give the 28-year-old backstop a blow against one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. During his seven-game streak, Stephenson is hitting .310 (9-for-29) with a homer, three doubles and five RBI in 30 plate appearances. He should be back in action for the second game of the series on Friday in Pittsburgh. Maile is hitting only .162 (18-for-111) in backup duties with two homers and eight RBI. Avoid him as a DFS sleeper in a matchup against Skenes.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson will take a seat in Sunday's series finale and will cede catching duties to Luke Maile. Stephenson has held a strong .289/.347/.578 slash line with three home runs and seven RBI over his past 11 games. Throughout the entire campaign, Stephenson has posted a .248/.324/.457 line with 16 long balls. Under the hood, he boasts an above-average 10.2% barrel rate and a 44.5% hard-hit rate, which suggest his power surge should continue down the stretch. Maile has been limited by several injuries this summer and has gone a mere 5-for-36 over his past 14 games. DFS players should look to fade the 33-year-old catcher as he will face Kansas City Royal right-hander Brady Singer, who carries a 3.32 ERA into Sunday's game.
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