Cincinnati Reds: Make-or-break season for these five players in 2020

3. Tucker Barnhart, Catcher

Last winter, the Reds were chasing J.T. Realmuto. Cincinnati was heavily involved in talks with catcher Yasmani Grandal this offseason. All of that noise should be a kick in the pants to Tucker Barnhart. If Barnhart hopes to keep his spot on lockdown, a breakout season at the plate may be in order, especially with Tyler Stephenson rapidly ascending through the farm system.

Barnhart is signed through the 2021 season and has a team-option for 2022, so, barring a trade, Tucker is going nowhere for the next two seasons. However, his role with the club could be a lot different this coming year and even more so in 2021. Barnhart has changed his approach at the plate, going from switch-hitter to exclusively hitting from the left-side.

The change couldn’t come at a better time for the Reds backstop. Last season, David Bell decided to more evenly distribute the catching duties between Barnhart and Curt Casali. I’d look for more of the same this coming season, with Tucker more likely to see time in the lineup when a right-handed pitcher is on the bump and Casali suiting up when a lefty takes the ball.

Stephenson, Cincinnati’s top catching prospect, is likely to make his season debut at Triple-A Louisville. If Stephenson has similar success with the Bats that he had in 2019 with the Chattanooga Lookouts, then the 23-year-old could make his big league debut this season. Barnhart’s production at the plate will make-or-break his long-term future with the Reds.