The Cincinnati Reds announced an update on catcher Jose Trevino.
The Cincinnati Reds entered Friday’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers at 16-9 and tied for first place in the NL Central, and they announced an encouraging injury update before first pitch.
Cincinnati has been without backup catcher Jose Trevino since early April, but the club has remained optimistic about his progress. After two weeks of steady improvement, the Reds finally took the next step in his return timeline.
“The #Reds today placed C Jose Trevino on a rehab assignment at High-A Dayton,” the club wrote on X.
Before the game, manager Terry Francona spoke with reporters and added further clarity. Francona said Trevino is scheduled to catch five innings on Friday and is expected to be activated on Sunday (h/t Regan Holgate of FOX19).
It remains unclear whether that means he will be available for the series finale against Detroit, but the update confirms he is nearing a return to the major-league roster. For a Reds team that has been waiting for stability behind the plate, this is significant news.
Trevino was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 8 (retroactive to April 5) with a thoracic spine strain, an injury that initially created concern given its location.
However, he has progressed steadily, responding well to increased activity and catching work. Cincinnati has relied on P.J. Higgins as Tyler Stephenson’s backup during Trevino’s absence, but Higgins has struggled collecting just two hits, making Trevino’s return even more important.
Once activated, Trevino will look to provide whatever offense he can, but his value remains rooted in his defense, game-calling and ability to manage a pitching staff, traits that have defined his career.
Now in his second season with the Reds after being acquired from the New York Yankees ahead of 2025, Trevino appeared in 93 games last year and posted a .238 batting average, .272 on-base percentage and .623 OPS with four home runs and 22 RBIs. He is also a former All-Star and Platinum Glove Award winner, giving Cincinnati a level of defensive reliability few teams have in a backup catcher.
With the Reds off to one of the strongest starts in baseball and their roster beginning to get healthier, Trevino’s return arrives at a moment when Cincinnati is looking to maintain momentum. His presence behind the plate could help steady the club as they push deeper into the season with the goal of playing baseball in October for a second straight year.