'It does look natural': Reds rookie Spencer Steer enjoys the unknown in utility role
CHICAGO – Most players like to know where they’re hitting in the lineup and where they will line up in the field, but Spencer Steer enjoys the unknown.
In his first five Major League games, he’s started at third base, second base and first base. He worked in the outfield at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, preparing for the possibility he could start a game there, and his natural position is shortstop.
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“Whatever will get me in the lineup every night,” Steer said. “If it’s left, center, right, catcher, whatever it is, I’m going to try it. Hopefully, they trust me to bounce around like I am.”
The term “utility man” is sometimes used for backups who give a starter a day off, but Steer could be the type of utility guy who starts every day all over the field. Los Angeles Dodgers regular Chris Taylor has played six positions this year. Kris Bryant won a National League MVP in 2016 while starting games at four positions.
Steer was a third baseman for his first two seasons at the University of Oregon and a shortstop during his junior year. Once he was drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Twins in 2019, he was asked to bounce around the infield at shortstop, third base and second base.
Once Steer was traded to the Cincinnati Reds last month, the top prospect the Reds received in the Tyler Mahle trade, he began playing first base and right field at Triple-A Louisville.
“I actually like it,” Steer said. “I think it’s fun not knowing where you’re going to play. I enjoy bouncing around and it keeps it interesting. Obviously, the more you bounce around, the more opportunity you’ll have to be in the lineup.”
Steer owns only infield gloves, so he’s borrowed from teammates. Colin Moran let him keep his first baseman’s mitt – “He’s an awesome guy,” Steer said – and he’s used outfield coach Jeff Pickler’s outfield glove. Steer ordered additional gloves, but he won’t have time to break them in until spring training 2023.
“He’s really settling in now,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “I keep asking him about the position stuff, just to be sure. I think he’s more used to that than playing one position. He’s good with it. I’d like to play him in the outfield. I’m not going to force that. I think the day it will just happen where it will make sense for him to play in the outfield.”
The biggest adjustment for Steer defensively is playing first base. The position requires different footwork. There are times when he has to fight his natural reaction to run after a grounder, so he can cover the bag.
“The more I play over there, the more comfortable I’ll get,” Steer said. “It’s a pretty easy adjustment when you’ve got good coaches that are helping you out. It’s just another infield spot.”
The 24-year-old Steer had an electric debut when he reached base four times, hit a homer and a double, and he scored the game-winning run in a walk-off win. The Reds hope he’s a big part of their future and a big part of his stability will be his versatility.
“It does look natural,” Bell said. “That was kind of the report I got on him: He just makes the plays, wherever you put him. First base can be a little tricky if you haven’t played there a lot, the footwork and all that. The first day he played there, he did a ton of work out there. He looks good. He looks like he can handle it.”
Reds injury updates: Hunter Greene, Connor Overton, Robert Dugger
Hunter Greene will make one more rehab start at Triple-A Louisville, his third, before he’s expected to rejoin the Reds’ rotation next week.
Greene struck out six of the nine batters he faced across two innings in his rehab start Tuesday. He threw 48 pitches and 28 strikes.
“Two innings, it’s not quite enough,” Bell said. “Forty-eight pitches was pretty close to where we thought he’d get. I think he’s still trying to get all of his endurance back. His arm feels great, but it was enough of a break in the season where he will keep building up one more time.”
Assuming Greene feels fine after his rehab start Sunday, he’s expected to start against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Sept. 16. That would give him time to make four more starts this season.
• Connor Overton, sidelined since late May due to a stress reaction in his lower back, was scheduled to pitch in a game Wednesday at the Reds’ spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona, and begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Louisville.
Overton will rehab as a reliever because there isn’t enough time left in the season to build up his innings.
• Robert Dugger went on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 8 with right shoulder pain and he was expected to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday in Louisville. He’s lined up to begin a rehab assignment Sunday.
• Medical exams found no additional damage to Nick Senzel’s ankle and he remains day-to-day on returning to the lineup. Senzel was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup because of a sprained right ankle, an injury he sustained sliding into third base Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds rookie Spencer Steer performing in utility role
