Tyler Stephenson's injury development can't force Reds to make senseless roster gaffe

The Cincinnati Reds will likely provide an update on Tyler Stephenson's condition before the team's split squad games against the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. The Reds backstop has been sidelined the past few days with a back issue and received an MRI on Thursday.

Reds manager Terry Francona seemed confident that Stephenson would be okay, but the Cincinnati faithful have heard that before. Christian Encarnacion-Strand was only supposed to miss a few weeks after getting hit by a pitch last season, but further tests later revealed that he needed surgery and the Reds' slugger missed all but 29 games in 2024.

Back injuries can be tricky, and a catcher's body tends to take a beating over a 162-game season. Though seeing their starting catcher hit the IL would be a major blow to the Reds, carrying three backstops as a means to lessen the strain on Stephenson would be even worse.

Tyler Stephenson's injury development can't force Reds to carry three catchers

The Reds tried that in 2023. After seeing Stephenson and several other catchers land on the injured list in 2022, Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall made sure to have plenty of insurance heading into the 2023 campaign. Krall signed Luke Maile and Curt Casali to pair with Stephenson in order to keep their catcher's room healthy.

Predictably, that blew up in the Reds face. Stephenson was given reps at first base — which didn't work out — and by June, it was apparent that keeping three catchers on the active roster limited the club's ability to match their opponents situationally. Casali eventually landed on the IL (though the injury itself seemed a bit fraudulent) and the Reds ended the season with Stephenson and Maile on the 26-man roster.

If Stephenson isn't fully capable of handling all the duties behind the plate, then Cincinnati should just put him on the IL and add Austin Wynns or another non-roster invitee to the roster. The Reds have already dealt with a similar situation this offseason. It was assumed earlier this spring that a limited Spencer Steer could at least hit, though he couldn't throw, and would act as the Reds DH. Cincinnati has since changed course, and it appears that Steer is headed to the IL.

The notion of playing hurt is an admirable one, but it oftentimes only causes more problems. Reds fans are optimistic that Stephenson's hiccup will be nothing major, and that they'll see him behind the plate on Opening Day.

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