The only thing better than one good catcher is two good catchers

ATLANTA — When the Cincinnati Reds’ front office set their to-do list for the offseason, adding a quality backup catcher was high up on it.

The Reds were adjusting coming off years like 2022, when a revolving door at catcher created a lot of obstacles, and from 2024, when the team went 18-37 in games that their backup catcher played in as Luke Maile posted a -.4 WAR.

Heading into 2025, the Reds invested in a much bigger way than they had in the past, trading setup reliever Fernando Cruz to the Yankees for catcher Jose Trevino. Then before the season even started, the Reds gave Trevino $5.25 million per season after 2025.

“We’re fortunate because when you don’t (have two reliable catchers), it can cause a problem,” Terry Francona said. “You’ve got guys coming in here and saying, ‘I don’t want to throw to this guy.’ That gets difficult. We’re very fortunate.”

Francona added, “We did our homework too because we don’t want to be in that position.”

The Reds avoided what could have been a major problem when Tyler Stephenson missed the first month of the year with an oblique injury. Trevino and Austin Wynns were hitting as well as any catchers in baseball. While that might not have lasted, they also played great defense and did an especially impressive job of managing the pitching staff.

With Stephenson and Trevino in particular, the Reds have two quality No. 1 catchers. That was by design.

“It provides a lot of comfort for the manager, knowing that whichever guy you choose is going to be able to control the game, control the pitching staff, understand the scouting report and understand us pitchers,” Nick Martinez said. “It does wonders to a team. If all of them are hitting, then it’s unicorn status.”

A theme of the offseason around MLB was how much backup catchers were in demand. Some of them received contracts north of $8 million. The league is recognizing the value of having two quality catchers, and they’re putting money behind that.

“I’d rather have multiple guys than just one really good one,” Brady Singer said. “Any of them can catch you any given night. Sometimes, you look at the lineup and a different catcher is catching you and you’re worried. Not here. I trust our guys. Every time I see a lineup, I’m really excited about who’s catching that night.”

The Reds’ recent series against the Pirates and Marlins — two teams that don’t have enough catching — only reinforced that value. When the Pirates and Marlins faced the Reds, those teams saw their young pitchers turn in inconsistent performances, allowed stolen bases regularly and simply dropped the ball much more than they should have.

On the other side of that equation are teams like the Mariners, Cubs, Dodgers, Royals and Reds, who have made catching depth a priority and are glad that they did.

“Not too long ago, if you had one solid catcher, you were ok,” Martinez said. “Teams have always been searching for a 1-2 punch. It’s just hard to find. When you find them, you want to hold onto them.”

The Reds invested more in Trevino during that offseason than they invested in Austin Hays and Scott Barlow. They were as aggressive toward finding a second catcher to pair with Tyler Stephenson as they were toward bolstering a regular corner outfield spot or strengthening their bullpen.

The Reds knew what they had in Stephenson, but they also saw the difference when he wasn't on the field.

Trevino has made an immediate impact in 2025, and having him on the roster was even more critical when Stephenson went down with the oblique injury.

“(Trevino’s) numbers speak for themselves,” Singer said. “The leadership and the things that he has done for all of us and the guy he is, he makes the locker room better. That’s the biggest thing. I’m super grateful for him to be here.”

The Reds are also very grateful to have Stephenson back from the IL. He was one of their best players in 2024, and he has made an immediate impact in 2025 with three extra-base hits in his first three games.

“He looks great,” Martinez said. “He’s a veteran presence, really. (He’s a) really smart hitter and obviously knows how to command the staff and communicate. He’s really coming into his own.”

Stephenson’s return immediately raises the floor of the Reds’ lineup, and his presence as a veteran right-handed hitter with a polished approach balances out the lineup. Behind the plate, he has more experience catching Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott than anyone and has been a part of some of the best starts of their careers.

But already having Stephenson around didn’t deter the Reds from investing further in the catcher position.

During the first month of 2025, the entire Reds’ catching operation picked up the team in a big way.

“It’s really fun to watch how those guys work and operate,” Singer said. “The biggest thing is they care about you. There’s so invested in catching. And also, they rake. They’re hitting the heck out of it.”