Austin Wynns DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cincinnati Reds catcher Austin Wynns had the best day of his career on Sunday, smacking six hits and driving in six runs in a 24-2 demolition of the Baltimore Orioles. Wynns finished the day 6-for-7 with a homer, two runs scored, and six RBI. It was certainly a day to remember for the 34-year-old backup catcher, who is now up to a .455 AVG and 1.227 OPS on the season. Although it's a fun story, there isn't much here from a fantasy perspective, as Wynns only plays a few times a week and will certainly regress statistically. Still, not many can say they had a six-hit day in the majors, so Wynns will always have that.

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they selected the contract of catcher Austin Wynns from Triple-A Louisville. With Tyler Stephenson (oblique) opening the year on the 10-day injured list, Wynns will make the Opening Day roster as the backup to Jose Trevino behind the dish in Cincinnati. The 34-year-old veteran catcher will likely be ticketed back to Louisville once Stephenson is cleared to return, but it's uncertain when that might be. Wynns was originally drafted in the 10th round by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013 out of Fresno State University. The journeyman catcher has played for five different MLB teams and has a career slash line of .230/.277/.332 with a weak .609 OPS, 13 home runs and 63 RBI in six major-league seasons. Unless Trevino also gets hurt and misses time, Wynns can be ignored in most fantasy formats.

Cincinnati Reds catcher Austin Wynns (shoulder) has been throwing to the bases and is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sept. 17. Wynns was suffered a right teres major tear in his shoulder while trying to make a throw to third base against the Kansas City Royals on July 28. The 33-year-old is not eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until Sept. 27, which is just two days before the end of the 2024 regular season, so he's highly unlikely to appear in the big leagues for the rest of the year. Wynns, a former 10th-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013 out of Fresno State, has appeared in only seven games with the Reds in 2024 in his sixth year in the big leagues and has gone 7-for-19 (.368) with four doubles, two RBI and five strikeouts.

To make room on the 40-man roster for recent free-agent signing Frankie Montas, the Cincinnati Reds designated catcher Austin Wynns for assignment on Tuesday. Wynns signed a one-year, $950,000 with the Reds in December as catching depth. If the 33-year-old backstop clears waivers, he'll likely return to the Giants and try to earn a roster spot in spring training. Wynns spent the 2023 season with the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies and hit .208/.268/.277 with one home run and 10 RBI in 145 plate appearances in 51 games. Forty five of his games played came with the Rockies. In five big-league seasons, Wynns has a career .226 batting average with only 13 home runs, 61 RBI and 63 runs scored in 653 plate appearances.