The past two days have been tough for the Cincinnati Reds and their catchers. Tyler Stephenson experienced lower back discomfort two days ago and was pulled from the lineup. An MRI later revealed an oblique strain. Then, during Friday afternoon’s game, his backup, Jose Trevino, took a foul tip off his hand and had to leave the field. The Reds sent him for X-rays to assess the injury.
Mark Sheldon of Reds.com reported shortly after 8 p.m. ET that Trevino’s X-rays were inconclusive, and he will undergo further evaluation on Saturday.
The recovery timeline for both players remains uncertain. Stephenson appears unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but he isn’t worried about any long-term concerns. Speaking with Mark Sheldon, he said, “I’m kind of glad I stopped when I did. But I feel good. I’m not in a bunch of pain. I’m definitely optimistic. It sucks that I maybe will miss the first few weeks.”
Jose Trevino’s situation is even more uncertain. If his hand is just bruised, he could be back in a few days. However, if tests reveal a fracture, his recovery timeline could extend from weeks to even months, depending on the severity of the injury.
If both Stephenson and Trevino miss significant time, the Reds will be in a difficult spot. They only have two catchers on the 40-man roster, leaving them short on depth. However, they do have Austin Wynns in camp, who has some familiarity with the pitching staff from his time with the team last year, along with Will Banfield and Michael Trautwein as additional options.
Of that group, only Austin Wynns has major league experience. The 34-year-old has appeared in 238 big league games over six seasons, posting a career .230/.277/.332 slash line in 673 plate appearances. Last season, he played seven games with the Reds, going 7-for-19 with four doubles.
Banfield spent last season in Triple-A with the Marlins organization, where the now 25-year-old posted a .247/.297/.379 slash line over 93 games for Jacksonville. Over his 517-game minor league career, he has hit .226/.278/.375.
Trautwein, meanwhile, split time between Double-A and Triple-A in the Reds’ system last season, appearing in 11 games at the lower level and 77 in Triple-A. Across both stops, he hit .195/.281/.347. In his 230-game minor league career, he has slashed .211/.308/.339.
The Reds don’t have strong internal options if both Stephenson and Trevino miss extended time. Relying on two of Wynns, Banfield, or Trautwein to handle the catching duties would be a significant gamble. Given the circumstances, it might be wise for Cincinnati to monitor the waiver wire and look to add a more experienced catcher rather than lean solely on their current depth.
