Calling All Catchers

The original lineup had Spencer Steer at first base, Noelvi Marte at third base, and Santiago Espinal, the Swiss Army knife, in left field.

Minutes before the game started, Marte experienced pain and was scratched. The merry-go-round started, Steer went to left, Espinal to third, but who would play first?

Tyler Stephenson was the designated hitter, and Jose Trevino was behind the plate. With left-hander Chris Sale on the mound, the only right-handed bat left was catcher Austin Wynns.

Bingo!

Wynns found a first baseman’s mitt he could use and made the second appearance of his career at first base. He played one inning at first base for the Baltimore Orioles in 2021.

He has more innings than that as a pitcher. He has appeared on the mound twice for a total of three innings and, by the way, allowed just one run for an even 3.00 ERA.

The Reds had all three players, whose main position is catcher, in the lineup.

Wynns, who last appeared in a game in the second game of the double header against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30th, brought a .394 average into the game.

Wynns had two hits on Tuesday, including a double off the top of the left field fence, which was so close it was reviewed by replay. Wynns was removed for a pinch runner. He had six chances at first, all putouts. It would have been his fourth home run.

Meanwhile, Stephenson struck out in all five plate appearances, a career-high. Trevino was 0-for-4, dropping his average to .288.

Wynns has exceeded his .240 career average and stands at .417 as circumstances kept him in the big leagues.