3 Reds players who've disappointed through the first 20 games, and 2 who've exceeded expectations

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson has disappointed through the first 20 games.

A lot of Reds fans are not going to want to hear this, but it's true. Tyler Stephenson has been disappointing through the first 20 games of the 2023 season. There's a myriad of reasons for Stephenson's shortcomings, but the Reds need their QB1 to pick up the pace.

Stephenson underwent surgery last season to repair a broken clavicle bone, so that could very well be the reason for his lack of power. Among all Reds players who've played at least 10 games, Stephenson ranks 10th in slugging percentage.

Stephenson's wRC+, according to FanGraphs, is currently sitting at 83. Stephenson is also striking out at an unusual clip. His strikeout-rate of 28.7-percent is in the 22nd percentile according to Baseball Savant. It's also higher than Jose Barrero's K-rate. If that doesn't get your attention, what will?

Can Tyler Stephenson turn things around? Absolutely. David Bell would appear to have sent a message to the 26-year-old on Thursday when he bumped Stephenson down in the lineup from thee cleanup spot down to fifth.

The Cincinnati Reds made the decision to move Stephenson around the diamond a bit more this season in an effort to keep him healthy. Whether that's playing into his psyche or not, only Stephenson can answer. But the Reds need one of the best players to start playing like it.