Reds juggle playing time of two hot-hitting catchers
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell says it can be easier getting two catchers consistent playing time than it is for players at any other position.
This season, he can choose daily between Tucker Barnhart, the reigning Gold Glove winner who is having one of the best offensive stretches of his career, and Tyler Stephenson, the franchise’s 2015 first-round pick who has made a leap forward in his second Major League season.
“(Barnhart) is getting two out of three (starts) right now,” Bell said. “But there will be other times of the year where, depending on a certain situation, maybe that would be reversed.”
Over the past 10 seasons, the Reds have had only two above-average hitting seasons from their catchers. Curt Casali and Devin Mesoraco have been the lone Reds catchers with more than 50 plate appearances to post an OPS+ above 100 in a season.
So far, Barnhart and Stephenson have both hit significantly above average.
Through the Reds’ first seven games of the season, Barnhart has made five starts and is ranked third among catchers in batting average (.444) and OPS (1.251). Stephenson has started the other two games, and he ranks fifth in batting average (.417) and seventh in OPS (1.083) among catchers with more than 10 at-bats.
Barnhart’s progression started last season when he had a .241 average against right-handed pitchers and a .318 on-base percentage. In 2021, Barnhart said his plan is “proper thinking” and hitting line drives opposite field.
“I didn’t expect maybe this, but I expected something similar,” Barnhart said. “I worked tirelessly this offseason just trying to put myself in the best position with every swing I took to get my best swing off, and it’s working. I just have to keep getting good pitches.”
Barnhart also has made a significant impact defensively, as he has throughout his career. He also has a deep understanding of the Reds pitching staff.
When Stephenson has been in the starting lineup, he has looked the part of a top-100 prospect.
In addition to what Stephenson brings as a power hitter, he was behind the plate for Jeff Hoffman’s Reds debut. Hoffman allowed only one run in five innings as Cincinnati topped St. Louis 12-1 on April 4.
Stephenson also caught one of the most efficient starts of Luis Castillo’s career. Castillo threw seven scoreless innings in an 11-4 win over Pittsburgh on April 7.
A platoon between the left-handedhitting Barnhart and the right-handed Stephenson would be a way to divide playing time, but the Reds will face right-handed starters considerably more than left-handed starters.
Though the catching rotation is more complicated than the opposing starting pitcher, Bell said he is confident Stephenson will have opportunities.
“We need both of these guys; it’s going to work out,” Bell said.