Spencer Steer's limitations provide unexpected chance for Reds injury-plagued slugger

As spring training workouts commenced this week in Arizona, Cincinnati Reds fans were once again greeted with disappointment. In an eerie repeat of the injury-plagued 2024 season, the Reds announced limited workloads for two key players: Rhett Lowder and Spencer Steer. But when one door closes, another one opens, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand may be ready to walk through.

Like Graham Ashcraft on the pitching side of things, Encarnacion-Strand is a once-promising player who is now floating without a defined role. The corner infielder battled injuries over the past two seasons and never established himself as a mainstay in the Reds’ lineup. Since making his MLB debut in July 2023, he has played just 92 games.

As Reds infielder Spencer Steer continues to rehab his shoulder, Christian Encarnacion-Strand has a golden opportunity

Steer seemed the likeliest option to man first base in 2025. The outfield is too crowded to afford him regular playing opportunities. However, his prolonged recovery from a shoulder injury will now force him to stick to DH for the time being. With a strong spring, CES could make a case for a roster spot.

When healthy, CES has some of the most impressive pop on the team. His swing feels tailor made for Great American Ball Park, and he could be a 30-homer guy if he stays healthy. On a Reds team that has prioritized speed over power in the past few seasons, CES would bring a new dimension to the squad.

Staying healthy, though, has not been the easiest. Even before making the Majors, CES missed time with a concussion (when still in the Minnesota Twins’ organization) and a herniated disc. His most significant injury, though, came in April of 2024 when he was hit by a pitch that fractured his wrist and damaged ligaments in his hand. That led to surgery, which ultimately led to a lost season.

The good news is two of those injuries seem to be from freak accidents, and the herniated disc has not reared its head since early 2023. As long as CES has made a successful recovery from surgery, as his stint in the Arizona Fall League indicates, there is little reason to believe he will be injury-prone moving forward.

The Reds also seem optimistic about Encarnacion-Strand’s presence on the team. He’s in the mix at third base as well as first. That seems like a good sign of a chance for an explosive comeback season for the young slugger.

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