Tyler Stephenson

Tyler Stephenson

28-Year-Old CatcherC
Cincinnati Reds
10-Day IL
Injury Oblique
Est. Return 4/3/2025
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Stephenson took a big step forward at the plate in 2024, raising his OPS from a career-low .696 to .782. He set career highs in home runs (19), runs (69) and RBI (66), fueled by improved performance and a rather surprising amount of playing time behind the dish. Stephenson went from 78 starts at catcher in 2023 to 112 last season, and he led the National League in total appearances at catcher with 127. After Stephenson suffered a collarbone injury and the third concussion of his playing career in 2022, the Reds made an effort to limit him, but the reins were off last season and he seemed to re-establish himself as the catcher of the present and future in Cincinnati. His defense improved by various metrics last year, although he still grades out less than favorably in terms of blocking, framing and pop time. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season From Preseason
#163
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $4.93 million contract with the Reds in January of 2025.
Moves to IL
CCincinnati Reds
Oblique
March 26, 2025
The Reds placed Stephenson (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Stephenson will be eligible for activation April 3, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to make his season debut by then while he continues to recover from a low-grade left oblique strain. He didn't appear in any Cactus League or exhibition games after suffering the injury in mid-March, so Stephenson will likely need at least a brief minor-league rehab assignment to pick up some at-bats before the Reds are comfortable bringing him back. In the meantime, Cincinnati will lean on Jose Trevino as its primary backstop, while Austin Wynns serves as the No. 2 option behind the dish.
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Batting Stats
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2024
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2023
 
 
+12%
OPS vs LHP
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
+4%
OPS vs LHP
2023
 
 
+22%
OPS vs LHP
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2023vs Left .803 278 41 12 38 0 .264 .335 .468
Since 2023vs Right .715 754 87 20 84 1 .246 .325 .390
2025vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Left .807 138 24 8 20 0 .244 .319 .488
2024vs Right .773 377 45 11 46 1 .263 .345 .428
2023vs Left .799 140 17 4 18 0 .283 .350 .449
2023vs Right .657 377 42 9 38 0 .228 .305 .352
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Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2023
 
 
+14%
OPS at Home
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
+17%
OPS at Home
2023
 
 
+9%
OPS at Home
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2023Home .787 505 68 20 73 0 .262 .339 .448
Since 2023Away .693 527 60 12 49 1 .240 .317 .376
2025Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Home .841 259 36 12 46 0 .275 .344 .498
2024Away .720 256 33 7 20 1 .241 .332 .388
2023Home .728 246 32 8 27 0 .248 .333 .394
2023Away .667 271 27 5 29 0 .239 .303 .364
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Tyler Stephenson See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2016
Reds manager David Bell said before the 2023 season that the goal was for Stephenson to catch roughly 65 games. Stephenson ended up making 92 appearances at catcher (78 starts) to go along with 43 appearances at designated hitter (40 starts) and eight at first base (four starts). While new arrivals to Cincinnati cemented themselves at the major-league level, Stephenson's play raised more questions than it answered in regards to his long-term future with the organization. He hit a mere five home runs in 271 plate appearances away from Great American Ball Park. By FanGraphs' WAR formula, Stephenson was below replacement level in his 142 games. He's suffered at least three concussions in his playing career and one more could force a move out from behind the plate, if his poor defense doesn't necessitate a move sooner. Now entering his arbitration years, Stephenson's starts at DH could take a big hit as the Reds find at-bats for other talented young players.
Stephenson was a bright spot for the Reds when on the field in 2023, but he was limited to just 50 games around a series of injuries. A broken clavicle put him on the shelf for good in late July. The concussion he suffered early on was the third of his playing career by his own admission, creating some talk among Reds fans that Stephenson may eventually need to move off the catcher position. By all accounts Stephenson is intent on catching until he isn't allowed to anymore, and if a move is necessary in time, Stephenson's bat should play well enough at first base. With better health, Stephenson could emerge as a top-10 hitter at the catcher position while playing his home games at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
Stephenson finally gained a foothold in the majors in 2021, hitting .286/.366/.431 with 10 homers, 45 RBI and 56 runs in 402 plate appearances. Now with Tucker Barnhart on the Tigers, the path is clear for him to be the full-time starter with the Reds. Stephenson was originally slated for platoon duty against left-handed starters, but that role grew over the season where he was essentially splitting time with Barnhart. He didn't have a big lefty-right split, trading some power for better on-base results against righties. Stephenson also hit fifth or higher in the order in all but 16 of his games, which bodes well for his spot in 2022. The Reds signed Aramis Garcia to be his backup, so this should be a traditional starter/backup set up in his favor in 2022, rather than a platoon.
In his first major-league game July 27 against the Cubs, Stephenson homered in his first at-bat, singled in his next at-bat and then drew a walk in his final plate appearance of the night. He then got his next chance to hit on -- wait for it -- Sept. 10. That's right, a team that was desperate for offense and getting below-average offensive production from the catcher position couldn't see fit to give one of its better hitting prospects an at-bat in over a month, and gave him only 20 PA all season. This coming season promises to provide more opportunities for Stephenson after the Reds designated Curt Casali for assignment. Keep in mind, however, that Stephenson is a right-handed hitter and thus could be stuck on the lesser side of a platoon with Tucker Barnhart, should the Reds decide to platoon the two catchers.
Stephenson's career has been stalled by injuries since he was taken in the first round of the 2015 draft, but he's made it through the last two years relatively healthy, and has been adding skills along the way. He maintained excellent plate discipline despite hitting the Double-A wall (metaphorically, not literally) at Chattanooga, walking over 10% of the time for the third season in a row while striking out 60 times. He hasn't hit for much power yet, but he's adding weight to his 6-foot-4 frame, and at times has demonstrated that he's capable of hitting for power, including at the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game, where he hit a massive shot to center. His framing gets panned by scouts, but he has a big arm and good makeup. The Reds will probably give him most of the 2020 season at Triple-A Louisville, but an early callup is possible if Tucker Barnhart starts slowly at the plate.
Stephenson, the Reds' first-round pick in 2015, finally made it through a full minor-league season without suffering a major injury. In 2016, it was a wrist injury that limited him to just 39 games at Low-A Dayton. In 2017, while still at Dayton, his season ended in July due to a thumb injury, capping him at 80 games. He finally moved up to High-A Daytona last year and played 109 games, hitting .250/.338/.392 with 11 homers. That appears underwhelming, but keep in mind that he was in a tough park and in a tough league to hit, and his primary focus was trying to get up to speed defensively behind the plate. He doesn't have the profile of an elite prospect, but catchers often move up at a slower pace anyhow. He'll likely arrive with the big club in 2020 or 2021.
The Reds drafted Stephenson with the 11th overall pick in 2015 as the first catcher taken in the draft. He's bigger than most catchers at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, but the Reds are confident that he can remain behind the plate nonetheless, as they like his defensive skills, particularly his strong throwing arm. His professional debut at rookie-level Billings netted just middling results (.268/.352/.361 with just one homer in 54 games), but that's not too worrisome yet. He'll be a slow-cook prospect - it may take him four-to-five years before we see him in Cincinnati.
More Fantasy News
Showing improvement
CCincinnati Reds
Oblique
March 23, 2025
Stephenson (oblique) showed improvement after being examined by a team doctor Friday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Headed to IL with oblique strain
CCincinnati Reds
Oblique
March 14, 2025
Stephenson will open the season on the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with a low-grade oblique strain, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Undergoing MRI on back
CCincinnati Reds
Back
March 13, 2025
Stephenson will undergo an MRI on his injured back Thursday, Pat Brennan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Scratched Wednesday
CCincinnati Reds
Back
March 13, 2025
Stephenson was scratched from Wednesday's lineup because of lower-to-mid back pain, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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First base not likely
CCincinnati Reds
February 28, 2025
New Reds manager Terry Francona doesn't intend to use Stephenson as a first baseman on days he's not catching, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Regression proof?
CCincinnati Reds
April 30, 2023
Stephenson has a .415 batting average on balls in play this season -- the fourth highest average in MLB.
ANALYSIS
Stephenson's sky-high BABIP is unsustainable, but it's partially being offset by strong contact from the 26-year-old. His 46.9 hard-hit percentage is much improved from his career 38.8 percent clip. Stephenson's metrics could benefit from a larger sample size, but his career .295 batting average across parts of four campaigns lends credibility.
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