Height
6'3"
Weight
225 lbs
Age
29
College
N/A
Draft
2015, Rd 1, #11
Experience
6 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsD+
| Year | Team | GP | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS | SB | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 558 | 0.261 | 63 | 258 | 0.764 | 2 | 458 |
| 2026 | | 1 | .000 | 0 | — | .250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$6.8M
Guaranteed
$4.1M
AAV
$6.8M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
Tyler Stephenson's one-year, $6.8M deal with the Reds earns a C CVI, reflecting a middling investment in a catcher who's struggled to establish himself as more than a rotational player. At $6.8M AAV, Cincinnati is paying above-average starter money for a backstop whose production has been inconsistent since his promising 2021 rookie campaign, when he posted a .286/.366/.431 line across 113 games. The single-year commitment makes sense given Stephenson's inability to stay healthy—he's missed significant time in each of the past two seasons—but the salary feels elevated for someone whose offensive output has regressed considerably from that initial breakout. For a Reds organization still building toward contention, this represents a safe but uninspiring move that addresses the roster need behind the plate without breaking the bank or blocking potential internal options. The deal essentially buys Cincinnati another year to evaluate whether Stephenson can recapture his early-career form, though at this price point, they're paying for optimism rather than established production. Given the premium typically attached to even average catching, this C-grade CVI reflects a contract that's neither particularly shrewd nor egregiously wasteful—just adequate compensation for a player whose ceiling appears limited to solid starter territory.
Performance Analysis
Tyler Stephenson grades as an All-Star caliber performer among MLB catchers, earning a B+ Performance grade. He is hitting with a 0.261 batting average and a 0.764 OPS (near the league average of .720) this season. With 63 home runs and 258 RBI through 558 games (a 18-HR, 75-RBI pace over a full season), he brings moderate power to the lineup. As a prime-age veteran at 29, Tyler is a key contributor for the Reds. A 558-game sample provides high confidence in this grade.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 4/10 | vs LAA | L 2-10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wed, 4/8 | @ MIA | L 4-7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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