In the middle of this turbulence, Reds manager Terry Francona made a surprising move: utility player Spencer Steer was deployed in center field, a position he has never played at the professional or collegiate level. Steer was penciled in as the leadoff hitter? Actually, he was slated to bat third against the Chicago Cubs on a Friday game while stepping into a center field role for the first time in major-league competition.
Should Cincinnati rely on Steer in center field on a long-term basis? Steer’s path to the outfield has been unconventional. Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Oregon, Steer was part of a trade to Cincinnati in 2022 in a deal that sent Tyler Mahle to Minnesota in exchange for Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. He made his Reds debut that season, appearing in 28 games and posting a modest OPS. The following year, Steer surpassed rookie limits and posted a strong showing, hitting 23 home runs while slashing .271/.356/.464, a performance that earned him a vote in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.
Over the next two seasons, Steer recorded 20 or more home runs in each campaign, continuing to show durability by remaining on the field. Through 88 games this season, he has tallied 14 home runs with a .240/.323/.421 line. While the offense hasn’t been the primary concern with Steer this year, his defensive metrics have raised questions. Baseball Savant’s Outs Above Average (OAA) data indicate only a single season in his career with a positive mark in the outfield, underscoring a potential mismatch when asked to patrol center field.
Center field is a different animal compared to corner outfield spots, and Steer’s skill set presents a challenge. His sprint speed in the current season sits in the 82nd percentile, which signals decent speed, but his range and overall coverage in center appear insufficient for a long-term assignment. His arm strength, on the other hand, ranks in the 28th percentile, a suboptimal figure for a position that demands quick throws and long accuracy from the deepest parts of the outfield. Despite logging 206 games in the outfield in his major-league tenure, Steer’s career outfield metrics indicate negative value in the corner spots, raising concerns about how well his defense translates to center field, where range and arm accuracy are magnified.
This decision has broader implications. If Steer is a temporary solution while the Reds await health, that’s one scenario. If the plan involves him playing center regularly for an extended period, the Reds could face a notable defensive decline across the outfield, particularly if Friedl, Marte, or others can’t contribute at the plate or glove. Friedl and Marte have shown more familiarity with the center field position in the past and possess a track record that could offer more stability than Steer in a demanding defensive role.
The situation isn’t a direct indictment of Steer’s abilities. He has demonstrated versatility by playing infield and outfield as needed, and he has accepted multiple defensive assignments as part of his role with the team. The broader question is whether this is a short-term adjustment designed to bridge a gap until healthy players return, or a signal that the Reds are weighing internal reshuffles or even external moves to address prolonged defensive instability. If the latter, the organization might consider alternative options in center field with more proven range and arm strength.
From a strategic standpoint, the Reds’ outfield configuration will influence both defense and the overall balance of the lineup. Center field is critical for preventing opposing teams from manufacturing runs via extra-base hits and aggressive baserunning. A defense that leans on a player with elite range and arm strength in center can relieve pressure on corner outfielders and relievers, potentially preserving more quality innings for the pitching staff. Conversely, a shorter defensively capable center fielder could magnify gaps and create opportunities for opponents.
Fans and evaluators will be watching how Steer adapts to center field in real game conditions. The coming weeks could reveal whether this is a pragmatic, short-term fix or a longer-term experiment. In the meantime, the Reds will rely on the health of their outfield corps and the continued development of younger players who can provide both offensive upside and defensive reliability.
In summary, the move to deploy Spencer Steer in center field marks a notable deviation in the Reds’ approach to an underperforming outfield group. While Steer has demonstrated flexibility and solid offensive production, center field demands are higher than his historical experience in the position. The outcome of this experiment will shape the Reds’ defensive profile and could influence future roster decisions as the team navigates a season marked by injuries and inconsistent hitting at the plate. As the organization contends with these challenges, the emphasis remains on sustaining production from the lineup while safeguarding the defense in the outfield to minimize the impact of injuries and slumps.
