ST. LOUIS – Tyler Stephenson possesses a special skill where he can affect games when he’s out of the lineup almost as if he was a starter.
Stephenson, the Reds’ rookie catcher, has been one of the better pinch-hitters in the league. He’s 9-for-35 in those situations this season (.257 batting average) with two doubles, three homers and a league-high 12 RBI.
There are nine players with more hits as a pinch-hitter than Stephenson, and six have received more at-bats than him.
“It says a lot about Tyler because pinch-hitting is difficult,” Reds manager David Bell said.