Spencer Steer

[Ron Madden]

Spencer Steer showing he belongs

Sure, Steer’s two-run single in the third inning didn’t leave the dirt. The runs still count, and he complemented the infield knock with another single and a double. It was the first career three-hit game for the rookie infielder, who was acquired from the Twins in the Tyler Mahle deal last August

Steer, who posted a .211/.306/.326 line in 28 games in ‘22, is benefiting from the comfort of a second time around. Tuesday marked his third multi-hit game on the young season, he has six extra-base hits in 10 games, and nearly as many walks (five) as strikeouts (seven).

“Having that experience last year, I kind of got the awe factor out of the way,” Steer said. “Now it’s just, this is my reality and I’ve got to come out here and perform. … Definitely, I think having that prior experience has helped me.”

https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/spence...e-in-reds-loss

[RedTeamGo!]

I like Steer, seems like a solid major leaguer for the next decade plus. Excellent acquisition. And the crazy part is he might not be the best player they got for Mahle. Just a fantastic trade.

[Wayne Krivsky]

Still extremely early but Spencer Steer has checked every box we had hoped on the young season. Patient approach at the plate, has hit the ball to all fields, good K rate, hits for average, hits for power, etc.

Also it might be worth really keeping an eye on Reds new hitting coach Joel McKeithan if we see Reds hitters continue to progress this year. He got a lot of praise last year for working with Brandon Drury, now as the head guy working with hitters we are seeing (in very small sample sizes):

Steer - 400/600/1.000
Fraley - 486/556/1.041
Stephenson - 372/342/714
Friedl - 359/583/942
India - 422/474/896

[NebraskaRed]

He has been great at the plate. He's been ok defensively, but I'd like to see some improvement there.

But yeah, he has been a great acquisition.

[CaiGuy]

If the Reds want to field a good team again, they will need depth. So I'd love to see Steer as a super-sub who plays a lot all over the infield. There is always DH as well.

I like this alignment in the infield:

1B Encarnacion-Strand
2B McLain
SS De La Cruz
3B India

UTL IF Steer
IF/CF Barerro

Stephenson also would factor in at 1B/DH.

The infield has a ton of potential and depth, it's a rare bright spot in the organization.

The outlfied on the other hand is less peachy, though Fraley helps a lot.

[Wayne Krivsky]

If the Reds want to field a good team again, they will need depth. So I'd love to see Steer as a super-sub who plays a lot all over the infield. There is always DH as well.

I like this alignment in the infield:

1B Encarnacion-Strand
2B McLain
SS De La Cruz
3B India

UTL IF Steer
IF/CF Barerro

Stephenson also would factor in at 1B/DH.

The infield has a ton of potential and depth, it's a rare bright spot in the organization.

The outlfied on the other hand is less peachy, though Fraley helps a lot.

You may be completely right in that Steer's future is as a utility player, however I am confused as to why so many people want to lump him into that category already.

Most publications had Steer as a top 10 prospect (some top 5) this preseason in the Reds organization. Had an 840ish OPS in AAA last year and has come out on fire so far in 2023. I get his defense is limited, but I think unless he shows us that he can't do it that he needs to be viewed as an every day player.

[mth123]

You may be completely right in that Steer's future is as a utility player, however I am confused as to why so many people want to lump him into that category already.

Most publications had Steer as a top 10 prospect (some top 5) this preseason in the Reds organization. Had an 840ish OPS in AAA last year and has come out on fire so far in 2023. I get his defense is limited, but I think unless he shows us that he can't do it that he needs to be viewed as an every day player.

I don't know what Steer's arm is like, but RF may be a good spot for him. Myers is a temp and there is no solution coming. McLain at 2B and India at 3B really improves the defernse IMO.

[CaiGuy]

You may be completely right in that Steer's future is as a utility player, however I am confused as to why so many people want to lump him into that category already.

Most publications had Steer as a top 10 prospect (some top 5) this preseason in the Reds organization. Had an 840ish OPS in AAA last year and has come out on fire so far in 2023. I get his defense is limited, but I think unless he shows us that he can't do it that he needs to be viewed as an every day player.

It's not a slight to him at all. It just depends on their goal. Do they actually want to try to compete? (probably not) If they do, they need not just good players at the top of the roster, but at the bottom...depth.

Baseball has become a game of attrition. Lots of mixing and matching, lot's of injury time, ect. So the teams who win have depth. He could play nearly every day as a utility player.

So who would we want to see in that role? Another Kevin Newman (who has appeared in 8/10 games already) or someone like Steer who can actually hit?

[Kc61]

I’d leave Steer at third base all season and see how his defense works out. If he improves with a full season’s reps, he’s my presumptive third baseman for 2024.

If somebody overtakes him at the position, we‘ll need a plan B, but right now he’s the third baseman.

I wouldn’t assume Marte or another minor leaguer will claim the position. Too soon, many things can happen.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. We have a good young third base kid in Steer, go with it until someone else claims the position with performance.

[MoneyInTheBank]

If the Reds want to field a good team again, they will need depth. So I'd love to see Steer as a super-sub who plays a lot all over the infield. There is always DH as well.

I like this alignment in the infield:

1B Encarnacion-Strand
2B McLain
SS De La Cruz
3B India

UTL IF Steer
IF/CF Barerro

Stephenson also would factor in at 1B/DH.

The infield has a ton of potential and depth, it's a rare bright spot in the organization.

The outlfied on the other hand is less peachy, though Fraley helps a lot.

I'll stop short of saying lucky but we will be incredibly fortunate if CES, McLain and EDLC are all good enough and healthy enough to force those tough decisions

[Wayne Krivsky]

It's not a slight to him at all. It just depends on their goal. Do they actually want to try to compete? (probably not) If they do, they need not just good players at the top of the roster, but at the bottom...depth.

Baseball has become a game of attrition. Lots of mixing and matching, lot's of injury time, ect. So the teams who win have depth. He could play nearly every day as a utility player.

So who would we want to see in that role? Another Kevin Newman (who has appeared in 8/10 games already) or someone like Steer who can actually hit?

I'm not putting anyone in that role just yet, I think a lot needs to happen in order to push Steer into a utility role. Too many open spots in this lineup still, and not a lot of guarantees that Marte, McLain, etc can come up and actually earn a spot over him in the next year or two. Even if so as mth123 mentioned could he play a corner OF spot? Seems like his bat should be able to play, but time will tell. Really just seems odd to me that we often pencil in guys like CES and McLain into future projected starting spots, but not Steer despite a really solid argument that Steer could be the best prospect of that trio. Maybe it has more to do with India likely being a 3B moving forward so it becomes tougher to project Steer into an everyday position? Not sure why it is, just seems odd to me that so many put a fairly low ceiling on the guy. This post may age extremely poorly and Steer ends up a .240 hitter and is a career bench bat, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if gets his defense to at least a league average level and made a few all star games at the hot corner for the Reds.

[Kc61]

I'm not putting anyone in that role just yet, I think a lot needs to happen in order to push Steer into a utility role. Too many open spots in this lineup still, and not a lot of guarantees that Marte, McLain, etc can come up and actually earn a spot over him in the next year or two. Even if so as mth123 mentioned could he play a corner OF spot? Seems like his bat should be able to play, but time will tell. Really just seems odd to me that we often pencil in guys like CES and McLain into future projected starting spots, but not Steer despite a really solid argument that Steer could be the best prospect of that trio. Maybe it has more to do with India likely being a 3B moving forward so it becomes tougher to project Steer into an everyday position? Not sure why it is, just seems odd to me that so many put a fairly low ceiling on the guy. This post may age extremely poorly and Steer ends up a .240 hitter and is a career bench bat, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if gets his defense to at least a league average level and made a few all star games at the hot corner for the Reds.

Yes, like I said, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. I think some put Steer as utility because they envision a Reds team on which he’s not good enough to start. But we are nowhere near that team. It’s a gleam in a fan’s eye.

It’s fun to watch prospects in the minors, nothing wrong with projecting ahead, but there will be some disappointment. Steer seems to be handling the majors well and contributing. Go with it until somebody proves himself to be better.

[757690]

For me, the reason to eventually move Steer off of 3B is his defense. If it doesn’t improve, he probably needs to find a new position.

[Kc61]

For me, the reason to eventually move Steer off of 3B is his defense. If it doesn’t improve, he probably needs to find a new position.

Sure, but he hasn’t been an everyday third baseman so he gets a chance to develop there. If he gets to average defensively, he probably has the bat to stick there.

[Ron Madden]

For me, the reason to eventually move Steer off of 3B is his defense. If it doesn’t improve, he probably needs to find a new position.

I thought Steer looked pretty good at 1B in the games he played there after being called up last season.

I think he's looked alright at 3B more often than not this year