The Cincinnati Reds received a significant boost with the return of catcher Tyler Stephenson ahead of their series against the Washington Nationals — but it came at a cost. To make room, the Reds placed outfielder Austin Hays on the 10-day injured list due to a lingering hamstring issue.
Hays, a key offseason addition, had been sidelined for several days with hopes of avoiding an IL stint. Unfortunately, his recovery didn’t go as hoped, forcing the team to make the move official.
Stephenson, who had been sidelined with an oblique injury since spring training, rejoins the Reds after a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. His return creates a potential logjam at catcher, with Cincinnati now carrying three backstops — Stephenson, Austin Wynns, and Jose Trevino.
The Reds may use one of the trio at designated hitter in the short term, but the situation isn’t sustainable long-term. A similar three-catcher strategy in 2023 fizzled out midseason and likely won’t be repeated. With no minor-league options left for Wynns, the Reds could soon face a tough decision about exposing him to waivers, especially given his solid offensive performance this year.
While Stephenson’s return is a welcome sign, it’s clear the Reds’ roster juggling is far from over.
