Reds Could Have a Power-Hitting Catcher Ready to Take Over in 2027

The catcher position will be in question for the Cincinnati Reds this offseason. 

Tyler Stephenson will be a free agent after one of his better offensive seasons since he debuted with the Reds in 2020. 

He heated up in July, hitting .339 with two home runs and seven runs batted in, making him a likely trade candidate, and he even got emotional after what he thought would be his final game in a Reds uniform when he hit a home run. The emotions of possibly playing his last game in a Reds uniform had set in. 

However, Stephenson wasn’t dealt and finished out the season with the Reds. 

It makes sense for the Reds to push to re-sign Stephenson, but if they don’t, their top prospect, Alfredo Duno, could be on the fast track to his major league debut. He signed out of Venezuela in 2023 and received a 55 hit grade and a 55 power grade from scouts. At 6’2” and 210 pounds, he has a good frame to be a major league catcher and has filled it out since joining the Reds organization as a 17-year-old. 

Duno is playing in the Venezuelan winter league and has hit home runs in back-to-back preseason games, showcasing the power that has made him MLB's #20 prospect and the Reds' best prospect in their farm system. 

He hit .281 with 19 home runs in 2026, coming off a 2025 season where he hit .287 with 18 home runs, showing consistent contact and good pop. Based on his winter league success, Duno could continue trending up as the Reds’ best prospect. 

Jose Trevino is under contract through the 2027 season and has a club option for 2028. He had a horrible offensive season in 2026, hitting .217 with a .556 OPS and five home runs, making it clear that even if the Reds don’t bring back Stephenson, they need to pursue outside catching help, and that help could come in the form of Duno making his debut in 2027. 

When Duno debuts, he could become the Reds' best offensive catcher since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, especially from a power perspective. The catcher with the most home runs since Bench was Devin Mesoraco, who hit 25 home runs in 2014. Duno could also be a candidate for the Reds' designated hitter as a platoon hitter against lefties, especially as a young player, since he hit .315 against lefties last season.