Final Reds Opening Day roster projections: Spencer Steer, Andrew Abbott remain iffy

As the Cincinnati Reds ready for the upcoming season, there are still some roster concerns ahead of Opening Day. Cincinnati had one of their biggest question marks take the mound on Monday when Andrew Abbott toed the rubber for his first Cactus League game of the season. Whether or not Abbott has enough runway to ramp up for the start of the season remains to be seen.

But the Reds have other injury issues as well. Tyler Stephenson will open his 2025 campaign on the IL after suffering an oblique injury. There's still no official timeline for Stephenson's return, but most assume he'll be back sometime in April or May.

Spencer Steer, however, has not yet be ruled out contention for the Reds Opening Day roster. Steer has been dealing with a shoulder injury since last season, and after receiving a cortisone shot, has yet to return to any in-game action. But Steer is getting in plenty of work on the back fields, and Reds manager Terry Francona has not slammed the door on Steer's chances of breaking camp just yet.

Final Reds Opening Day roster projections: Spencer Steer and Andrew Abbott remain iffy

Reds infield (8)

Gavin Lux
Matt McLain
Elly De La Cruz
Jeimer Candelario
Santiago Espinal
Jose Trevino
Christian Encarnacion-Strand
Austin Wynns

While Francona has left the door open for Steer, the Reds cannot afford to include their most versatile defender if he's limited to just hitting. Steer has appeared in just three Cactus League games, and only as Cincinnati's designated hitter. Though there's still hope that Steer can make it back in time for Opening Day, he's running out of time.

The rest of the Reds infield is all but set. De La Cruz and McLain will be in the everyday lineup with some combination of Lux, Candelario, Espinal, and Encarnacion-Strand manning the corner infield spots. Look for Wynns to replace Stephenson as the Reds backup catcher while Trevino takes the everyday role at the outset of the 2025 season.

Reds outfield (5)

Austin Hays
TJ Friedl
Stuart Fairchild
Jake Fraley
Jacob Hurtubise

The final spot in the Reds outfield comes down to just two players. One of Hurtubise or Blake Dunn will secure that final spot, and based on performance alone, that honor should fall to the West Point graduate. Hurtubise has been one of Cincinnati's best players this spring. Dunn's right-handed bat could be the difference, however, and there's a chance the former 15th round pick breaks camp with the Reds.

Francona has also talked about sending both Espinal and Lux into left field on occasion; something that would offer the Reds skipper even more roster flexibility. It's really a coin flip at this point, and whoever Francona chooses will have a short stay if Steer's time on the IL is short.

Reds starting rotation (5)

Hunter Greene
Nick Lodolo
Brady Singer
Nick Martinez
Carson Spiers

While there's been a lot of focus on Steer, there are many unanswered questions regarding Abbott as well. The lefty took the hill on Monday and looked okay. He threw less than 50 pitches, struck out two batters, and allowed two runs over three innings.

The pitcher who followed Abbott, however, was lights out. Spiers put an exclamation point on an already tremendous spring with five innings of one-run baseball against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday. Look for Spiers to join Greene, Lodolo, Martinez, and Singer in the Reds Opening Day rotation.

Reds bullpen (8)

Joe La Sorsa
Graham Ashcraft
Tony Santillan
Brent Suter
Emilio Pagán
Taylor Rogers
Scott Barlow
Ian Gibaut

The Reds bullpen is ripe with questions. Is Alexis Díaz ready for Opening Day? Will one of the Reds starters be moved to the bullpen? How many non-roster invitees will join the Reds active roster? Those questions and how Francona answers them will be fascinating.

Díaz has looked dreadful this spring, and his latest action came in a minor-league game. Perhaps that's where the Reds closer should begin the season until he gets back on track. The Reds have two of experienced closers on the roster already in Barlow and Rogers, and Pagán can handle late-game situations too.

Ashcraft put up a valiant fight, but his time as a starter should be in the books. Cincinnati needs to transition Ashcraft into a relief role, and he could bring a big-time lift to the Reds relief corps. The Reds should also add non-roster invitees Gibaut and La Sorsa to the Opening Day roster while optioning Díaz and Sam Moll to Triple-A.