Tyler Stephenson Takes Winker’s Counsel

Tyler Stephenson (Photo by Dan Arnold)

CINCINNATI—In his first full season, catcher Tyler Stephenson actually played in fewer games than he did in his draft year. The 2015 first-rounder appeared in 54 games in his pro debut but just 44 this season, mostly at low Class A Dayton.

Stephenson, the No. 11 overall pick out of an Atlanta-area high school, missed two weeks with a concussion, but he also dealt with a left wrist injury that required surgery in August. The 20-year-old’s longest uninterrupted stretch without injury was 18 games, all at the beginning of the season.

While rehabbing in Arizona, Stephenson became a nightly dining partner with outfield prospect Jesse Winker, owner of one of the most sound hitting approaches. The two spent hours talking about adjusting to professional pitchers and how to approach at-bats.

Like Stephenson, Winker was a premium draft pick. The Reds selected him in the supplemental first round in 2012 out of high school. Winker even dealt with a wrist injury of his own.

Among the dinner topics were Winker’s own slow start at Dayton in 2013.

Winker counseled Stephenson on not letting one bad at-bat affect the next one and the next 20 after that, as he had when he began his pro career. Winker also schooled him on sticking to an approach that works, not just reacting to what he saw.

In the seven games back at Dayton before the wrist began to bother him again, Stephenson had his best stretch of the season, hitting .375 with a homer. He missed the next two weeks before playing seven more games—and going just 3-for-23—to end his season. His time in Dayton also afforded him time with catching coordinator Corky Miller and second-round pick Chris Okey, a fellow catcher.

“It was tough,” Stephenson said. “Looking back at the season, I probably learned more about myself and the game of baseball than I would have playing.

“I think that’s going to help me down the road, kind of dealing with all the adversity. The ups and downs I had this year helped me grow as a player.”

RED HOTS

• The Reds signed 16-year-old third baseman/catcher Victor Ruiz from Tijuana of the Mexican League. Ruiz hit .298/.392/.440 in the league’s Monterrey academy.

• Chad Wallach, son of former big leaguer Tim Wallach, played in the Arizona Fall League for the second straight year. He played first base this year after catching last season. He played both positions at Double-A Pensacola in 2016.