CINCINNATI — During his Minor League career, Spencer Steer got comfortable not playing at one position for very long. Steer made his Major League debut for the Reds on Friday as their third baseman against the Rockies.
Steer could play a different position on Saturday, and maybe another one on Sunday. And so on, and so forth.
“I wouldn’t say one spot or the other that I’m more comfortable at because of how much I’ve been bouncing around,” Steer said.
Although his versatility is a plus, Steer reached the big leagues because of his bat and ability to get on base. That became evident quickly on Friday. In his first plate appearance vs. Colorado lefty Kyle Freeland, Steer went from a 1-2 count to working a 10-pitch walk in the second inning.
Leading off the bottom of the fifth, Steer crushed a 2-1 Freeland pitch to center field for his first big league hit and home run as fans at Great American Ball Park roared with approval. Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who also went yard for his first MLB hit, was in the booth calling play-by-play for the homer.
Steer, the organization’s No. 7 prospect, was acquired on Aug. 2 in the trade that sent starting pitcher Tyler Mahle to the Twins. One of 10 prospects the Reds acquired in a series of trades this summer, Steer is the first to reach the big leagues and offer a glimmer of hope during the start of a rebuilding process.
Steer batted .274 with an .879 OPS, 23 home runs and 75 RBIs in 106 games across Double-A and Triple-A this season, including a .294 average and three homers in 23 games since he was traded. He primarily plays third base and second base but has also gotten starts at shortstop, first base and right field since joining the Reds’ organization.
“The [Louisville] coaching staff, all of my teammates and everyone there was really welcoming and made me feel at home. That transition was really easy,” Steer said. “It’s fun for me playing different positions every night. It’s kind of fun going to the field and not knowing where I was going to be on the field that night. I really started to embrace that with the Twins, and the Reds put me in some spots I’ve never played before. That took it to another level, which I had fun with. Whatever happens here, I feel prepared because of them throwing me in those different spots.”
Reds manager David Bell planned on having Steer in his starting lineup as much as possible this month in a super-utility role. With his ability to move around, it prevents Bell from having to sit an established player to make way for Steer. Third baseman Kyle Farmer was the designated hitter on Friday, which cleared the way for the rookie.
Different players can get breaks on any given night.
“I feel like I know him from talking to people in Minnesota; [manager] Rocco Baldelli had a great report on him when we first traded for him,” Bell said. “Since Spencer has been in Triple-A, he played great. He made a really solid impression. Versatility. Can play all over the field. He’s going to find himself in the lineup for us in a lot of different spots. Maybe even different spots in the lineup, definitely spots in the field, which will help us let everyone get playing time.”
Steer’s parents, grandparents, two younger brothers and several other family members and friends made the trip from Southern California to watch his debut.
“I’ve got a good little squad here tonight,” he said.
Steer was primarily a contact hitter when he was taken in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. During the canceled 2020 Minor League season, the right-handed hitter worked with Twins instructors to develop his power by using his legs more.
The adjustment worked well. Steer slugged 24 homers over 110 games at High-A and Double-A in 2021. He’s drawn some comparison to former Reds third baseman Brandon Drury, both as a hitter and fielder.
Defensively, Steer only owns infielder’s gloves. He borrowed teammate Colin Moran’s first baseman’s mitt at Louisville. Moran let him keep the glove when he got promoted last weekend. Steer borrowed Louisville outfielder Isiah Gilliam’s glove when he was in right field.
“It’s a little late in the season to get a glove fully broken in,” Steer said. “I think this offseason I will get some extra gloves besides infield ones. Hopefully I will lean on some other guys and borrow their gloves if need be.”