Cincinnati Reds: 3 signs Curt Casali will be gone next season

2. Tyler Stephenson is the Reds future behind the dish.

It’s Tyme. While there are Stephensons that might not make the 2021 roster, you better believe there will be one in the dish. Tyler Stephenson got the call this past summer. In 17 at-bats, Stephenson slashed .294/.400/.647. That includes two balls out of the yard and is good for a 1.047 OPS.

Tyler Stephenson will turn 25 towards the end of next season. Ask any Reds fan who’d they rather have; an exciting 25-year-old rookie or a 32-year-old average ballplayer? Again, no disrespect to Casali, but eventually the Cincinnati Reds have to start getting some return on their farm system. And jumping the Triple-A part of that farm system says a lot about Stephenson’s ability.

On the contrary, this is the best reason to keep Casali– just in case Stephenson needs to get designated to Louisville. But in his seven seasons in the minors, Stephenson’s .263/.350/.390 proves he can do just as well as Curt Casali. But unlike Casali, Stephenson has much more room and ability for continued development.

Stephenson is the team’s No. 4 ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and though he only got behind the plate twice last season, his minor league résumé clearly shows that he’s capable of playing the position. Let’s not forget he threw out former Reds speedster Billy Hamilton during a game against the Chicago Cubs.