ANAHEIM, Calif. — Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson was placed on the injured list Wednesday because of a small fracture on the tip of his left thumb, an injury he initially sustained while catching a pitch from hard-throwing right-hander Hunter Greene last week.
Stephenson, who is batting .226 with nine homers and 36 RBIs in 72 games, aggravated the injury while catching Nick Lodolo’s bullpen session Tuesday night before a game against the Los Angeles Angels and was sent for X-rays, which revealed the fracture.
“You can play as tolerated, but the catching part, that makes it a little more difficult,” manager Terry Francona said. “(His recovery) would be quicker if he wasn’t a catcher.”
Stephenson will be evaluated by a hand specialist Thursday during an off day in Phoenix. Jose Trevino will take over as the starting catcher, and Will Banfield was called up from Triple-A Louisville.
