Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson hit a two-run home run to straightaway center in the bottom of the 1st inning of the Louisville Bats’ 6-5 win September 3 against the St. Paul Saints.
It was the first plate appearance of Stephenson’s rehab assignment with the Bats. Stephenson also flied out to left field and flied out to right field, and was replaced in the 8th inning.
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After the game, Reds manager Terry Francona said Stephenson will be Louisville’s designated hitter Thursday, and there’s a chance he’ll return to the Reds on Friday if all goes well.
The Enquirer’s Pat Brennan reported that Stephenson, whose catching thumb is injured, gave a thumbs-up after completing an “up-down” simulated game with Chase Burns.
Stephenson last played in a big-league game for the Reds on August 15 against Milwaukee.
Video of Stephenson’s long homer, from the Bats via Twitter/X:
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson shows the plastic protective thumb guard a specialist created to help allow him to catch with a fracture in the tip of his thumb.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson homers in first AB of rehab assignment