Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart (16) celebrates.
The 2021 season was supposed to be a bridge-year from starting catcher Tucker Barnhart to top-rated rookie Tyler Stephenson. If Barnhart keeps producing, the Cincinnati Reds front office may have more questions than answers moving forward.
The Reds made a shrewd maneuver this offseason when they non-tendered veteran catcher Curt Casali. With Stephenson showing last season that he was ready to make his presence felt in the big leagues, Nick Krall and the Cincinnati front office felt as though it was time to allow Casali to sign elsewhere and head into 2021 with the catching tandem of Barnhart and Stephenson.