Reds catcher Aramis Garcia shows off power in his rehab assignment (video)

The Cincinnati Reds have send catcher Aramis Garcia to Triple-A Louisville in order to rehab from a finger injury that has robbed the former second-round pick of over two months worth of action at the big leagues.

In his second game with the Louisville Bats, Garcia sent a high fly ball onto the berm at Louisville Slugger Field. It was Garcia's only hit of the game, but it put the Bats on top and Louisville would never relinquish the lead.

The Louisville Bats wrap up the 2022 season with a three-game road trip to Georgia. The Gwinnett Stripers represent the final opponent for the Bats this season and one would assume that Garcia will return to the Cincinnati Reds no later than this Thursday.

Reds catcher Aramis Garcia shows off power in his rehab assignment.

The Cincinnati Reds signed Aramis Garcia during the offseason to help bring depth behind the plate. After trading Tucker Barnhart to the Detroit Tigers during the offseason, the Reds were looking for a veteran presence to help back up Tyler Stephenson.

Both Garcia and Andrew Knapp signed minor league contracts with the Reds before spring training, and it was the former San Francisco Giants' catcher who powered his way onto the Cincinnati Opening Day roster.

Tyler Stephenson has dealt with a variety of injuries this season, which actually forced Garcia into more games than the 29-year-old pick probably assumed he'd see in 2022. Garcia appeared in 46 games before hitting the injured list and posted a .516 OPS.

The role of backup catcher heading into the offseason is still up for grabs, as the Cincinnati Reds have trotted out Austin Romine, Chuckie Robinson, Michael Papierski, and Mark Kolozsvary this season. None of the aforementioned backstops have asserted themselves, and Garcia has as good a chance as any to be QB2 in 2023.

There is arguably more pop in Aramis Garcia's bat than any other catcher within the Reds organization outside of Tyler Stephenson. Garcia is also pre-arbitration eligible, so he'll be making the league minimum next season.