From the first game that Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson played in the big leagues, he looked like a player who’d be unfazed by big at-bats throughout his career.
In 2020, Stephenson picked up his first MLB hit in a game where he came off the bench and hit a home run. He barely played that season, but he still earned the opportunity to make a few starts at designated hitter. In 2021, Stephenson started the season as the Reds’ backup catcher and go-to pinch hitter, and he carved out more starts and more consistent playing time as the season went on.