With a perfect debut by Spencer Steer, the Reds walk-off the Rockies

On Friday afternoon, as new Cincinnati Reds third baseman Spencer Steer drove up to Great American Ball Park, he didn’t know quite where he was going.

Steer ran into one of his new teammates, someone he didn’t know. He asked the player how to get in, and Steer followed him. On his way into the clubhouse, Steer crossed paths with manager David Bell.

Bell insisted that he wanted to help carry Steer’s bags. The top-100 prospect was meeting his manager for the first time, and he wasn’t sure what to do. Eventually, Bell convinced Steer to let him help out for about 50 feet. It was a day full of surprises for Steer, but at the end of the night, Bell was praising the rookie's poise and his comfort level on an MLB field.

On Friday, Steer had a homer, two walks, a double and he scored the game-winning run. Reds second baseman Jonathan India hit the walk-off single as Cincinnati beat the Colorado Rockies, 3-2, in front of a crowd of 16,763 at Great American Ball Park.

"You don’t know what to expect coming up to the big leagues, it’s a lifelong dream,” Steer said. “You can’t really know what to expect until you do it. Today, I made memories that will last me the rest of my life. I didn’t have much expectations, whatever happened today happened. I was just trying to soak it all in and enjoy the moment. That’s what everyone tells you to do on your first day. I was just trying to do my best to slow everything down and soak it all in.”

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Steer became the first Reds player to reach base four times in his debut since Jay Bruce in 2008. According to Stats Perform, Steer had the highest OPS of any player in his debut in the modern era who had at least three plate appearances in the game.

It was a storybook day for a player that the Reds are hoping turns into a long-term mainstay in the lineup.

Steer was the centerpiece of the Tyler Mahle deal at the trade deadline, and the Reds called him up on Thursday to be an every day player. He immediately showed why.

“He just took it all in and he wasn't nervous at all,” India said. “You could tell he was composed. He was ready. Really laid back and he did what he had to do. It was pretty cool.”

Bell said that from his first conversation with Steer about his bags, Bell could sense that Steer felt more comfortable than a lot of rookies on their first day.

Bell paid attention to how diligently Steer prepared for the day. Sometimes, rookies making their debut run out of time to prepare for the opposing pitcher because of how many moving pieces there are during the day. But Bell took note of how Steer went through a normal pregame routine.

“He was here to play well and to win a game,” Bell said. “When you can do that on your first day, it says a lot about who Spencer is … Everything was calm and under control. He was taking it all in. I think that polished approach carried over to where you could really see the kind of player he is.”

Early in Steer’s minor league career, he was known for his poise, approach and consistency at the plate. He immediately showed that in his big league debut, drawing a 10-pitch walk in his first career plate appearance. Steer fouled off five pitches to stay alive and then watched a slider dip outside of the strike zone to draw the walk.

The skill that turned Steer into such a highly-regarded prospect is his power. He made a major swing change in 2020, adding a leg kick. That unlocked his ability as a power hitter, and Steer showed his potential with the homer to center field.

Steer kept a rally going in the sixth inning by drawing a walk, another impressive moment from the 24-year-old rookie.

“I’d say most of the nerves was leading up to the game,” Steer said. “Once you get onto the field, the pitcher is still 60 feet away. You still got to throw strikes and hit the ball. It’s the same game I’ve been playing my whole life. I had that feeling stepping onto the field, that’s when I was the most comfortable I had been all day.”

Steer led off the ninth inning in a 2-2 game. He crushed a double down the right field line, racing into second base and representing the go-ahead run. Then Steer advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Rockies reliever Alex Colomé was trying to pitch around India, who was going for his first career walk-off hit. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Colomé threw India a cutter that was about a foot outside of the strike zone.

India lunged out to swing at it, hoping to put the ball into the outfield, The Rockies were using a five-man infield, and India was aiming for the open space in center field.

India ended up hitting a chopping ground ball to the second baseman. Steer got a great break at third, and India’s single was enough to win the Reds the game.

“I wanted it really badly,” India said. “I wouldn't normally swing at that pitch. That ball was probably four feet outside, but I wanted to win it.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Spencer Steer shines as Reds get walk-off win over Rockies