Colorado Rockies exclusive: Robert Stephenson on his return to Cincinnati

Before Sunday’s series finale with the Cincinnati Reds in which the Colorado Rockies were swept, we had a chance to talk with Rockies reliever Robert Stephenson on the field at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

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Stephenson was drafted by the Reds in the 1st round in 2011 and spent 2011 through 2020 with them and he spent part of five seasons with them in the major leagues. We discuss how the Reds honored him in a few ways in his return to Cincinnati, including a shoutout on the scoreboard, as well as the fan reaction to seeing Stephenson on Friday.

We also discuss how Stephenson felt when returning to Cincinnati.

We also ask him what he thinks are the biggest similarities and differences between two of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league in Great American Ball Park and Coors Field.

He also tells us what it’s like not to just play for one former MLB pitcher in Bud Black but two in former Reds manager Bryan Price.

We also talk about how he learned that he was traded from the Reds to the Rockies this offseason and who he heard it from first. We also discuss what some of the conversations are like in the bullpen and some of the relationships that he has made in the major leagues and the minor leagues, including some of his favorite teammates from both teams.

We also discuss some of the conversations that take place in the Rockies bullpen as well.

Again, a big thanks to Robert Stephenson as well as Ben Bowden, Lucas Gilbreath, and Ryan McMahon for taking some time to talk with us in the last few days, and a big thanks to the Rockies PR team as well.

You can check out our conversation with Bowden and Gilbreath here, our conversation with Ryan McMahon here, and you can listen to our conversation with Robert Stephenson above.