Why Spencer Steer should be the runaway Silver Slugger Award-winner, but won't be

Cincinnati Reds rookie Spencer Steer was named a finalist for the 2023 National League Silver Slugger Award.

Steer is very deserving of the recognition. After having a cup of coffee in the big leagues during the 2022 season, Steer became a regular in the lineup for the Reds this past season.

When it comes to the Silver Slugger Award, Steer is categorized as a utility player. Unfortunately, he's facing stiff competition due to some strange inclusions among his competitors.

Why Spencer Steer should be the runaway Silver Slugger Award-winner, but won't be

Major League Baseball now includes utility players among those who are able to win a Silver Slugger Award. If there was ever a player who defined a utility player in 2023, it was Spencer Steer.

The Cincinnati Reds rookie played three games in right field, 16 games at second base, 45 games in left field, 47 games at third base, and 73 games at first base. While Steer wasn't necessarily an elite defender, his ability to play all over the diamond was one of his biggest assets.

But among the quote, unquote, utility players who are also up for the Silver Slugger Award are Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers), Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs), and Ha-Seong Kim (San Diego Padres).

But here's the rub, Betts and Bellinger are also in the running for a Silver Slugger Award as outfielders. Among the other outfield finalists are Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks), Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves), Juan Soto (San Diego Padres), and Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies).

You know how this is going to end, right? Betts, Soto, and Acuña Jr. will be named Silver Slugger Award-winners among the outfielders, while Bellinger will collect the hardware as a utility player. Book it!

While Bellinger did his split his time fairly evenly between both first base and the outfield, players should not be given the opportunity to win the award at multiple positions.

The same thing is true of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Mookie Betts and Ha-Seong Kim are finalist for the award as both a utility player and their primary position.

Congratulations to Spencer Steer on being named a finalist for the Silver Slugger Award. But rest assured, Reds Country, Steer has no shot at winning the award.