Reds catcher finding his footing at the plate 

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Until recently, in run-scoring opportunities, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson wasn't delivering the big hit this season like he seemingly did regularly as a rookie in 2021. During the past week, Stephenson is producing more and showing signs that he is heating up ahead of summer.

In his last four games entering Sunday, Stephenson is 7-for-19 (.368) with three doubles and four RBIs. Overall, he's batting .286 with a .654 OPS but has just two home runs and is hitting .227 with runners in scoring position.

"The last few games, it’s really starting to turn," Stephenson said. "There’s still a long way to go, but we’re getting there."

During Friday's 9-0 win over the Cubs, Stephenson had his first three-hit game of 2023. That included a long, two-out double to right field with an exit velocity of 97.5 mph that might have cleared the wall had the wind not been blowing in at Wrigley Field. On Saturday, Stephenson added two hits, including a double, and a run scored.

"That ball he hit [Friday] would be a home run in a lot of ballparks," Reds manager David Bell said. "But he hit that ball plenty good enough. You don’t need much more power than that.”

Stephenson, 26, was limited to 50 games because of injuries in 2022. He has already played 50 games this season and has been out of the starting lineup only five games.

Pitchers have been tougher on Stephenson as they've adjusted to him. He has been making his own adjustments in return and has largely gotten back to the basics.

"He was chasing [inside] off the plate because they were pitching him there a lot. The way to get away from that is not to look in there," Bell said. "You look out over the plate for a pitch you can handle. Stuff like that is basic stuff but you get away from it sometimes when you’re pressing. Bottom line, he can hit. We know that. It’s always a matter of time for him to come out of it.”

Stephenson has been pleased that the work he's put in to adjust his sights is paying off.

“Any time you make an adjustment and see some results in positive ways in games is huge," he said. "It’s something you have to continue to build off of. It gets the confidence going. It’s very positive.”

Entering the season, Bell had created a plan to have Stephenson catch about 65 games while sharing time with Curt Casali and Luke Maile, and fill the other games playing at first base or as the designated hitter. The plan has been modified by Bell with first base being all but scrapped for now.

"It was just a lot to handle," Bell said. "With that being a new position and catching at this level and still being a young player, he was still making improvements there and working through his hitting stuff. Hopefully the DH-ing and having the three catchers will keep him fresh enough."