The Cincinnati Reds have officially placed catcher Tyler Stephenson on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured thumb, the team confirmed today. To fill the roster spot, Will Banfield has been called up from Triple-A, with his contract selected by the club. He takes the spot vacated by Jake Fraley, who was designated for assignment over the weekend and subsequently claimed off waivers by the Braves.
Stephenson, now 29, was the Reds’ first-round pick in 2015 (11th overall) and has served as the team’s primary catcher since 2021. Known more for his bat than his glove, Stephenson has also logged time at designated hitter and first base. Heading into the 2025 season, he held a strong career line of .267/.343/.427 (107 wRC+), with a 113 wRC+ in 2024. However, his performance has dipped this year, and Jose Trevino has taken on a greater share of catching duties.
In 72 games this season, Stephenson has slashed .226/.313/.393 with a 90 wRC+, while striking out at a career-worst 34.4% rate — significantly higher than his 23.4% career average. The thumb injury occurred last week while catching a pitch from Hunter Greene in a game against the Phillies. Stephenson appeared in just one game since the incident, and now officially lands on the IL. The team has not offered a timeline for his return.
In the meantime, Trevino is expected to take over the starting catching role full-time. Trevino, who began his career with the Rangers in 2018 and later joined the Yankees, is best known for his defensive prowess. Though his offensive numbers were modest (81 wRC+ in New York), he earned a Platinum Glove during his stint there. Cincinnati acquired him this past offseason in exchange for Fernando Cruz and Alex Jackson. Offensively, Trevino has struggled of late, hitting just .176/.205/.206 since July, but remains a strong pitch framer.
As for Banfield, the 25-year-old joined the Reds organization last November after spending his entire career with the Marlins. His bat has been underwhelming in Triple-A — he’s hitting just .220/.277/.304 (53 wRC+) in 73 games — but his defensive skills have earned him a look as Trevino’s backup while Stephenson recovers.
Cincinnati’s catching depth beyond Trevino and Banfield is thin. P.J. Higgins and Eric Yang remain in the minors, but neither is seen as a strong option. Yang has only one MLB appearance and is slumping at Triple-A, while Higgins — known as a weak defender — last appeared in the majors in 2022 and holds a career line of .210/.291/.348 (85 wRC+).
Overall, Stephenson’s absence is a tough blow for a Reds team fighting to stay relevant in the NL Wild Card race, especially with their rotation performing well but the offense still inconsistent.
