If that is it, Tyler Stephenson says it has been a enjoyable trip

No matter what occurs from right here, the spotlight of Tyler Stephenson’s Reds’ profession was on June 27, 2024. Upon coming back from the bullpen as he warmed up the beginning pitcher, Stephenson was knowledgeable that he was about to be a dad. Stephenson was scratched from the sport. He went by a tunnel of gamers leaping up and down within the dugout.

Stephenson pumped his fists within the air. Elly De La Cruz pounded him on the helmet. Hunter Greene slapped Stephenson on the again. Nick Lodolo high-fived him. Stephenson left the ballpark, went to be along with his spouse and was there for the start of his daughter, Savannah.

If solely there was a solution to know you’re within the good outdated days earlier than you’ve really left them.

The Reds drafted Stephenson out of highschool within the first spherical of the 2015 draft. He was a child. Eleven years later, he’s a husband, a dad and an at all times dependable veteran large leaguer.

Stephenson is within the remaining 12 months of his contract, and he’s a candidate to be traded earlier than tomorrow’s deadline. On Sunday, he homered in his potential remaining swing at Great American Ball Park. After the sport, he was very emotional as he mirrored on the opportunity of having performed his remaining sport as a Red.

For now, Stephenson remains to be the longest-tenured Red. He has grown up alongside Greene, Lodolo and De La Cruz. At the beginning of his profession, Stephenson had implausible chemistry with Luis Castillo and was an enormous a part of Castillo making the All-Star workforce in 2022. Over the final six years, Stephenson helped each pitcher, from Greene to Chase Burns to guys who solely had a cup of espresso within the large leagues.

He needed to overcome accidents, together with a thumb damage that robbed Stephenson of an All-Star nomination in 2022, a shoulder damage that ended his 2022 season and an indirect damage that set him behind the eight ball throughout a troublesome 2025 season.

He had to enhance his protection early on. It meant a lot to Stephenson that he employed a non-public catching coach and had him sleep on a buddy’s sofa so Stephenson may get the most effective instruction doable.

In 2025, he reported to spring coaching a month early so he may get further reps working with the Reds’ pitchers.

He has years and years of tales of working with and rising with the folks round him within the Reds’ group. It’s a workforce which means loads to him.

That makes the opportunity of not being a Red by this time tomorrow troublesome for him to suppose a lot about.

“I’m ready for it to be over with,” Stephenson stated.

On Monday morning, simply in case he finally ends up being traded, Stephenson plans to take a tour round Cincinnati along with his spouse. They’re planning to go to a few of their favourite locations within the metropolis.

He moved right here throughout COVID, a rookie not fairly able to catch within the large leagues however with a bat adequate to swing the shortened season. In September of 2020, he hit a walk-off homer towards the Pirates with a swing that saved the season.

A photograph of the second hung within the Reds’ spring coaching clubhouse for years. In 2021, he was one of the vital clutch gamers in baseball. In July of that season, he hit a walk-off single to beat the Padres at a essential second within the season. After the sport, in accordance with Kyle Farmer, because the Reds celebrated the win within the clubhouse, Joey Votto walked as much as Stephenson. Votto seemed him within the eye and stated, “You just saved our season.”

Stephenson has so many reminiscences right here.

Now, he’s coping with the enterprise aspect of the sport with the uncertainty of being a participant in a contract 12 months on a workforce that’s 5.5 video games out of a playoff spot.

During spring coaching in 2025, Stephenson and the Reds mentioned a long-term contract extension.

“I didn’t feel like it was the time or anything,” Stephenson stated at the beginning of spring coaching in 2026.

Stephenson stated in February that extension talks hadn’t resumed.

“You never know what the future holds,” Stephenson stated in February. “I love being here, and we’ll obviously see what happens. My goal this year is to have as much fun as I can because this is the group of guys that I came in with. I’ll try to have fun with it.”

Plenty of good groups, together with the Yankees, Dodgers, Rays and White Sox, want catching assist. Stephenson is among the finest choices obtainable to these groups. He’s an excellent hitter for the place, is nice on the computerized ball-strike system and is a really succesful starter at a place the place there aren’t 30 of these across the league.

If the Reds traded Stephenson, Jose Trevino would step up because the starter. Will Banfield, who made seven begins for the Reds in essential video games in August and September of final season throughout a stretch the place Stephenson was injured, may very well be referred to as up from Triple-A. So may PJ Higgins. The Reds can be a worse workforce with out Stephenson down the stretch this season, however they’ve the depth to commerce him and get by the season whereas including prospects who may assist sooner or later.

Going by the previous few deadlines, listed below are some comparability factors for what beginning catchers in contract years sometimes get in return on the deadline.

-Christian Vasquez to the Astros in 2022 for the No. 29 and No. 30 prospects within the group — prospect No. 30 (Wilyer Abreu) broke out within the large leagues as a standout outfielder a couple of years later with Boston

-Nick Fortes to the Rays in 2025 for a speedy upper-level middle fielder ranked No. 28 within the group

-Danny Jansen to the Brewers in 2025 for a No. 25 ranked prospect (a High-A infielder who was a former highly-regarded worldwide free agent)

-Freddie Fermin to the Padres in 2025 for 2 veteran fill-in beginning pitching depth items.

On Sunday after the Reds beat the Pirates, 10-2, Stephenson had a tough time placing into phrases the feelings that he was feeling.

He has cherished being a Red. He grew up right here.

If that is it, he says, “It’s been a fun ride.”