What Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson learned from his challenging 2023 season

GOODYEAR, Ariz. –– Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson reported to spring training on Jan. 10. He arrived over a month early because there were already pitchers working out in Goodyear, Arizona.

Stephenson decided to get a head start working with them because he wants to be in the lineup for more of the most important games of the season.

“I want to be the guy that everybody wants to pitch to,” Stephenson said. “I’m prideful about that. That’s something I really wanted to dive deeper into this year. I want to do everything I can because that’s our role as a catcher. We’re here for the pitchers.”

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Stephenson has been the Reds’ starting catcher since 2022, but the former first-round pick wasn’t in the lineup for some of the Reds’ biggest games in the playoff chase last year. Veteran catcher Luke Maile became the personal catcher for Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott, who were the Reds’ two most established pitchers last September.

Last September, the Reds traveled to Cleveland during the last week of the season for a two-game series that amounted to must-win games. With Greene and Abbott on the mound, Stephenson was on the bench for both of them.

“Absolutely, that was tough,” Stephenson said. “I want to be out there as much as possible. It stunk, but you live and you learn. You grow, move on and get ready for this year.”

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Stephenson had been known for his consistency, and last season challenged him in new ways. He was used to thriving under pressure. He hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat, became a designated hitter during the playoff race in 2020, was the Reds’ most clutch pinch-hitter in 2021 and was playing like an All-Star in 2022 before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

In 2023, Stephenson didn’t look like the same player. He had career lows in batting average and OPS, and he graded out as a below average offensive catcher. Stephenson’s defensive metrics also took a step back, and he wasn’t as in sync with the team’s pitchers as he needed to be.

“Pitchers and catchers can fall into a pattern of comfort,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I respect it. Ideally, it won’t matter. Ideally, our pitchers are comfortable throwing to both (catchers). It’s not like they weren’t comfortable doing that. They just get used to it. The more we can get our pitchers used to both of our catchers, the better off we’ll be. Then your hands aren't tied on who can play every day. I believe we’ll get there.”

Last summer, Stephenson met with a mental skills coach to try to handle his frustration with a better approach. He has kept up that work during the offseason and reevaluated who he is as a player.

“It’s about looking at what got me here for a reason and continuing to build on those things,” Stephenson said. “Also, this game is always evolving. I watched Joey Votto make the adjustments that he did. This game is always going to challenge you. You’ll always have to adjust with the game, and I’m making some changes.”

Stephenson knows what it looks like when he’s maximizing his ability at the plate. When he’s at his best, he’s a patient hitter with great strike zone judgment who peppers singles and doubles into right field.

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In the spring, Stephenson plans to explore small tweaks with his stance and with his overall approach at the plate. But a leap back to the hitter he was in 2022, when he posted a .319 batting average, starts with being a more confident hitter.

“Early on last year, there was a lot going on,” Stephenson said. “I don’t know. I don’t want to say I felt lost, but I don’t know. It wasn’t clicking. There was a lot of last year where I felt like I was searching. In the second half of the season, I started to get back to my foundation and gain confidence.”

For Stephenson, improvement as a pitch framer, as a blocker and in controlling the running is more about his technique. He has always received pitches well at the top of the strike zone and struggled receiving pitches at the bottom of the zone. Last year, he bounced between using a one knee catching stance and a crouched stance as he tried to balance improving his weakness while maintaining his strength as a defensive catcher.

This year, his goal is to stay with the one-knee approach all season. He’s prioritizing blocking low pitches more consistently.

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“I’m going to have to compromise,” Stephenson said. “It’s been great so far this spring. I’m excited to get confidence with that going into the season.”

He’s working on his offense and his defense, but Stephenson’s priority is building deeper relationships with the Reds’ pitchers. The Reds had a specific “battery camp” for their pitchers and catchers in January so that they could start that process together.

Stephenson is asking more questions to the Reds’ pitchers than he has in previous years to develop a better feel for the pitching staff. Stephenson has caught all of Greene’s bullpens so far this spring to get a better understanding of where Greene is at and what last year’s Opening Day starter is working on.

This year, the Reds are having a different pitcher sit in on each of the Reds’ daily catchers meetings. It gives Stephenson another opportunity to break down every pitcher on the roster and learn more about the group.

For Stephenson, these are the early stages of a process. It’s a part of his plan to be behind the plate in October, helping lead a Reds team with high internal expectations.

“It’s Year 4 for me,” Stephenson said. “I’m taking more pride in that. I don’t want to say about myself that I have a bigger voice, but I want to lead and do everything possible. We know what we have this year. I want to do everything I can to help us win.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson responded to his 2023 season