Fittingly, Tyler Stephenson gave a thumbs-up after completing an “up-down” simulated game with Chase Burns.
Stephenson, whose catching thumb is injured, and Burns continued on Sept. 2 their progression toward rejoining the Cincinnati Reds from respective injured list stints. They served as battery mates for one another in a multi-inning simulated game prior to the night’s actual contest against the Toronto Blue Jays at Great American Ball Park.
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Burns was placed on the injured list with a flexor strain Aug. 15, retroactive to Aug. 12. The left thumb fracture to Stephenson’s catching hand landed him in the injured list Aug. 20.
Cincinnati Reds pinch hitter Tyler Stephenson (37) watches a foul ball fly in the ninth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The Dodgers won 5-4.
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Burns faced live Reds hitters and Stephenson did the catching throughout the exercise with what appeared to be almost the entire pitching staff watching alongside several coaches including pitching coach Derek Johnson and assistant pitching coach Simon Mathews.
Stephenson’s thumbs-up was apt but it shouldn’t be taken as an officially-official update on his status. Francona said earlier Sept. 2 that Stephenson would head out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville Sept. 3 if the simulated game went well.
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“Stephenson’s actually caught a few times in between innings. He’s been simulating squatting,” Francona said. “He’s caught guys in the bullpen. So, this is not the first” time he’s caught pitchers.
Chase Burns, here throwing in the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Aug. 10., was placed on the injured list Aug. 15.
Burns would likely go through with an additional simulated game if his work Sept. 2 went according to plan, Francona said.
Burns’ injury contributed to the Reds’ ongoing deficit of pitchers (Graham Ashcraft is also on the IL, and Nick Lodolo, who had been on the IL due to a finger blister, was scratched from his Sept. 2 start against the Blue Jays due to illness). Burns was in the conversation to join the Reds’ bullpen at the time of his injury as he was approaching an approximate innings limit for his 2025 season.
In Stephenson’s absence, Will Banfield was called up to the Reds.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds injury news sees Tyler Stephenson, Chase Burns nearing returns