Reds place Stephenson (left thumb fracture) on IL
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Before Wednesday's finale against the Angels, the Reds placed catcher Tyler Stephenson on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday, with a left thumb fracture. The club selected catcher Will Banfield from Triple-A Louisville to take Stephenson's place on the roster.
Stephenson had missed the past four games because of the injury, with Jose Trevino starting behind the plate. The 29-year-old Stephenson opened the season on the IL with a left oblique strain and didn't return to action until early May.
The thumb injury occurred while catching a pitch in Friday’s game against the Brewers.
With discomfort still present when Stephenson caught a rehab throwing session Tuesday from left-hander Nick Lodolo, he was sent for an X-ray that confirmed the fracture. He was available the past four games in the case of an emergency but was not needed.
“He’s going to see a specialist in Phoenix,” manager Terry Francona said of the team’s next stop on a three-city road trip. “I think it’s as tolerated, and [recovery] would be quicker if he wasn’t a catcher. When he took [batting practice] yesterday, he was killing the ball.”
Banfield, who was picked in Competitive Balance Round B by the Marlins in the 2018 MLB Draft, signed with the Reds in the offseason and has yet to make his big league debut.