Spencer Steer to begin 2025 season on injured list

Yet another blow to the Cincinnati lineup!

The healthy returns of both Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the Cincinnati Reds roster paired with the trade of Jonathan India had many of us wondering just where Spencer Steer would end up making throws on the defensive side of the ball in 2025. The free agent signing of Austin Hays further mucked that up, though Steer’s versatility meant that he may well end up taking his glove just about anywhere.

As it turns out, he’ll be taking his glove to the injured list to begin 2025, the balky shoulder that plagued him last year (and all winter) not healed nearly enough to even serve as the team’s regular DH for the time being. So revealed MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon on Saturday afternoon, as said by manager Terry Francona.

Since the team has repeatedly suggested there’s no structural issue in Steer’s ailing shoulder, it’s an incredible frustration for all parties involved that something like this has managed to linger for over half a year with no solution still in sight. As a result, the Reds will not only begin the 2025 season without Tyler Stephenson from the right-side of the plate, but also without Steer, who has led the club in total ribbies since the start of the 2023 season (if you’re into that sort of thing still).

Steer’s versatility was one of his biggest calling cards, and Cincinnati’s ability to make switches all around the field mid-game was more or less unlocked by him being able to man a corner OF spot, corner IF spot, or even 2B in a pinch. Now, that versatility will seemingly fall to Gavin Lux, who may well end up getting to use three gloves a game if Francona makes switches anywhere near as often as former manager David Bell.