Reds minor-league lineup change sparks growing injury concerns for Tyler Stephenson

Update (8/20/25 at 12:33 p.m. ET): Tyler Stephenson was placed on the 10-day IL with a left thumb fracture.

The New York Mets will be without their starting catcher for at least the next 10 days, and the Cincinnati Reds may soon be in the same boat. Tyler Stephenson was out of Cincinnati's starting lineup again on Tuesday, and after Will Banfield was pulled from the Louisville Bats' game against the Nashville Sounds, it's a good bet that the Reds' QB1 is headed to the IL.

Jose Trevino was in the Reds starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels; marking his fourth straight start behind the plate. Trevino has been carrying the load while Stephenson has been dealing with a thumb injury.

Over the past few days, Reds manager Terry Francona has been downplaying Stephenson's injury, but Banfield left Tuesday's game during the top of the first inning without swinging the bat or even squatting behind the dish. He's quite likely on a flight to Los Angeles at this very moment.

Reds minor-league lineup change sparks growing injury concerns for Tyler Stephenson

Banfield was part of the Reds spring training camp in Goodyear and has been with the Bats all season. The 25-year-old was a former draft pick of the Miami Marlins back in 2018 and signed a minor-league deal with the Reds this past offseason.

If Banfield is indeed called up to the big leagues, once he steps onto the field, it'll be his first game in The Show. Banfield has spent his entire career in the minor leagues with a .225 batting average and .645 OPS. This season with Triple-A Louisville, he's hitting .220 with two home runs and a .581 OPS in 72 games.

The Reds' catching depth in the minor leagues took a massive hit when Austin Wynns was traded to the Athletics. Cincinnati carried three catchers on the active roster for about a month, but it eventually became unsustainable. Banfield represents the best of the catching trio on the Bats' roster.

If Stephenson hits the IL, Reds fans can expect to see Trevino get the lion's share of starts behind the dish. Banfield may grab a start here and there, but Trevino will likely be behind the plate five to six days per week while Stephenson is on the mend.

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