To say the Cincinnati Reds have been dealing with the injury bug all season would be an understatement. The Reds have seen numerous key players hit the DL, and the biggest has been the loss of catcher Devin Mesoraco. Despite this, the Reds have reason for optimism thanks to Tucker Barnhart.

Barnhart has shown a lot of improvement this season from last season. In 2014, he hit for a .185 avg., .241 OBP, and mustered just one HR and one RBI in 21 games. This year, he is up to a 296 avg., .348 OBP, and has three HRs and seven RBIs in 25 games. In four more games, Barnhart has shown more power and a greater ability to get on base. He also has shown good chemistry with the young starters as well.

In fact, Barnhart has earned a greater role with the Reds moving forward as they continue this youth movement. Barnhart’s production this year could make Brayan Pena expendable next year when Mesoraco returns from his hip surgery. The future could look a little brighter if the Reds can have three catchers who are equally productive and have developed good chemistry with the young pitchers.

Barnhart continues the Reds’ trend to develop catchers who are not only good defensively, but offensively as well. If he can continue to develop his bat, he could become another 15-HR player for the Reds behind the plate. A catching tandem of Mesoraco and Barnhart may not have sounded so appealing entering the season, but it now doesn’t sound half-bad at all.

Chad Troyan is a baseball and football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChadTroyan15, “Like”him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google