Tyler Stephenson to begin rehab assignment with AAA Louisville

Will the Reds be a three-catcher team once more?

The Cincinnati Reds have received incredible production from behind the plate so far in 2025, the 155 wRC+ from their catchers bested only by the collective catching unit of the Chicago Cubs (190 wRC+). To date, the combination of Jose Trevino and Austin Wynns has hit a whopping .343/.395/.543 in 77 PA, helping stabilize a lineup that’s dealt with injuries up and down it so far in 2025.

That obviously wasn’t supposed to be the plan, however. Tyler Stephenson is the resident incumbent there, and Trevino was brought in this winter (and extended) to serve as his primary complement. Stephenson, though, went down with an oblique injury in spring training and has been sidelined through the season’s first 23 games, with Trevino and Wynns providing ample insurance in his absence.

Said absence is expected to be over soon, however. On Tuesday, the Reds announced both Stephenson and LHP Sam Moll were being sent to AAA Louisville on a rehab assignment, meaning their returns are to be expected within the next few weeks.

How the Reds choose to sort out this logjam will be an interesting watch. Wynns, who swam through DFA limbo several times with the Reds last year, is out of options, so Cincinnati can’t simply option him back to AAA as depth without trying to pass him through waivers, something that may prove more difficult this time around after he’s hit so well to begin the year. Risking losing him with Stephenson’s injury history would put a serious damper on the franchise’s overall catching depth, so there’s wonder whether the Reds might move to a three-catcher model for a time - something they last did in the Curt Casali era.

Maybe that’d mean Spencer Steer finally gets shut down to find a solution to his shoulder issue, even though he’s now picked up some limited 1B action to pair with his DH-only work. Regardless, it will welcome back one of the most dependable offensive bats the Reds have had the last few years while forcing Nick Krall & Co. in the front office to make some tough roster decisions in the process.