Long-awaited Reds' lineup adjustment aims to jumpstart Spencer Steer's 2025 season

The Cincinnati Reds made two roster moves ahead of Sunday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. The team placed Carson Spiers on the 15-day IL and selected the contract of pitcher Randy Wynne. The Reds bullpen was gassed, and after Hunter Greene only logged three innings on Saturday, Cincinnati needed an extra arm.

But the bigger, and perhaps more important change to Cincinnati's roster was Spencer Steer's place in the lineup. Due to a shoulder injury, Steer had been restricted to acting as solely the Reds' designated hitter, but on Sunday, he'll be playing the field for the first time all season and is back at first base.

Steer suffered a shoulder injury last season that hampered his throwing motion. Courageously, he played through the injury, but Steer struggled with the lingering effects earlier this spring. He was shutdown midway through spring training, received a cortisone injection, and after over a week off, began a throwing progression.

Spencer Steer will play 1B for the Reds during Sunday's series finale vs. the Orioles

The injury did not affect Steer's ability to hit—though that's debatable based on his early-season stats. Steer recently spoke to Reds' broadcaster Jim Day about the injury, and how being away from the field created a different mindset that he'd never grappled with in the past. "When it's just DH, you don't have that switch to flip (between offense and defense). It's just kind of always offensive mode...It's like it's own craft." Steer said.

That won't be the case on Sunday afternoon. Steer will now be on the field for both offense and defense for the first time all season, and it's a safe bet that he's been eagerly awaiting this moment. During his conversation with Day, Steer mentioned that he would begin playing at first base, but will eventually expand his throwing distance even more, suggesting he could soon find some starts in the outfield as well.

Steer has been the Reds most versatile defender for the past two seasons, though both Gavin Lux and Santiago Espinal have gained some valuable experience in his absence. With Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the IL with a back injury, look for Steer to split time with Jeimer Candelario at first base for the next couple of weeks.

Reds fans are hoping that a return to the diamond will jumpstart Steer's bat. Normally one of the most reliable hitters in the Reds lineup, Steer is hitting just .111 with a .390 OPS and only three extra-base hits. That needs to change, and perhaps putting on his glove for the first time this season will help get him untracked.

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