Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson received exciting news right before entering a game and celebrated in the dugout before leaving the premises.
Ahead of Thursday’s series opener in St. Louis, Stephenson got the call that his wife was about to deliver a baby girl – their firstborn.
Instead of taking the field, Stephenson headed to South Carolina, where his wife, Carlyn, was expected to be induced.
However, the Reds’ dugout did not let him leave without a celebration.
In a video posted on the team’s X account, Stephenson is seen dancing with his teammates upon hearing the news.
Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson got the news of his daughter’s birth before Thursday’s game
The Cincinnati players beamed for their catcher, patting his helmet and exchanging high-fives as he failed to contain his excitement. He then exited the dugout and made his way to greet his daughter.
‘Soon to be girl dad, @Tyler_Steph22, got the ring before taking the field,’ the Reds captioned. ‘Congrats to the Stephenson fam.’
Stephenson has been with the Reds since he entered the MLB in July 2020.
He got married right before the 2022 MLB season and shared their pregnancy in March this year.
‘Baby girl Stephenson coming late this summer,’ he captioned a photo himself and Carlyn holding the ultrasound.
Stephenson was about to enter the game, but instead jetted to South Carolina to join his wife
The catcher has been in Cincinnati since he got drafted into Major League Baseball in 2020
Stephenson, an Atlanta native, married his wife Carlyn right before the 2022 MLB season
After Stephenson left, his team secured an 11-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals
After his exit, the Reds secured an 11-4 win over the Cardinals.
The teams will take the field again on Friday at 8.15PM and at 2.15PM on Saturday.
About two years ago, also in St. Louis, a young Reds fan handed the catcher a card after breaking his thumb. The card read: ‘Go Reds! Get well soon!’
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