Stephenson hopes to continue to evolve after stellar '24 campaign

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Tyler Stephenson had some remarkable moments in a breakout 2024 campaign.

The most memorable? It’s not even close.

His daughter Savannah Frankie Stephenson was born on June 28, and Tyler made sure to be present, joining wife Carlyn in South Carolina for a delivery that came about six weeks ahead of schedule.

“I had my daughter. Then things got better,” said Stephenson, smiling still. “They are the best things that happen to you in your life, and they change your perspective in a good way.”

Stephenson has worn fatherhood well. His pace of production basically doubled after he returned to the Reds on July 2, when he put together a stretch helped him set career highs with 19 home runs, 66 RBIs and 46 extra-base hits.

He had 13 homers, 42 RBIs and an .837 OPS in the final 71 games of the season, and the Reds were five games over .500 with him back behind the plate.

“Maybe that girl-dad strength,” Stephenson said.

It remains. His first homer this Spring Training came with Carlyn and Savannah in the stands.

Stephenson made some minor adjustments to his hitting approach last season, changes that not only contributed to his increased pop, but also helped with pitch recognition in his second season back from a broken clavicle that cost him the final 10 weeks of the 2022 season.

“Hitting the ball in the air and driving it with power,” he said. “It was nice to continue to evolve those this offseason.”

Peripheral numbers showed gains across the board. His exit velocity, barrel percentage and hard-hit percentages were career highs, according to Statcast, and his strikeout percentage was a career low.

Stephenson’s improvement against the slider was particularly notable. He led the Reds with a +8 run value against that pitch, according to Statcast, one run ahead of Spencer Steer. That is a pitch best identified through repetition.

“Finally was at a point last year when I felt I could really slow the game down, offensively and defensively,” Stephenson said. “It comes with time and just getting as many reps as you can. Any time you can slow the game down, it is going to be a lot easier. The more you play this game, the more time you spend up here, you just continue to learn and grow your game.”

Numbers are a byproduct, not necessarily a focus, as he looks ahead.

“I try not to get too caught up in trying to repeat it,” Stephenson said. “Just trying to continue to have my process. At the end of the year, the numbers are going to be the numbers. I just want to be prepared every day, do what I need to do to compete.”

In Stephenson’s case, every day is not a stretch. He had an NL-high 127 games behind the plate last season and caught 1,001 innings. He handled the fourth-most chances among Reds’ catchers since 1900, when records became official. He did all that while adapting to a one-knee down setup, which helps with pitch framing.

“To be out there and be available, I take pride in that,” he said. “There is a lot behind the scenes to be able to do that, to put yourself in position physically and mentally to do that. Even days I’m not playing, knowing there’s a chance I might come in. I want to be out there as much as possible.”

Stephenson might not log that near-record workload behind the plate with veteran Jose Trevino on the roster, but he will see time at DH to keep his bat in the lineup against left-handers. First base is not an option, manager Terry Francona said.

“He’s grown so much as a catcher and earned the respect of that room,” Francona said. “He’s done a good job. He’s turned himself into a pretty good catcher.”

Stephenson caught 15 of Opening Day starter Hunter Greene’s 26 starts last season and looks forward to a reprise.

“It was really cool to see his progression, and that showed in the season that he had,” Stephenson said. “Took a lot of pride in his prep and just getting his mind right. It’s contagious, and we have a lot of guys like that. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”