​The Cincinnati Reds have endured a steady drumbeat of injuries and misfortune in the outfield, with Blake Dunn, Dane Myers, and Matt McLain all taking turns on the grass before being sidelined. Compounding the issue, several regulars at the plate—TJ Friedl, Will Benson, Noelvi Marte, and others—have struggled to produce consistently. This confluence of injuries and underperformance has prompted an unusually creative, if puzzling, decision from Reds manager Terry Francona.
Spencer Steer, a versatile utility man, will make his first documented foray into center field across his major league, minor league, and college experiences when he starts there. He is slated to bat third against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, a role and a position he has never occupied at any professional or collegiate level. Steer’s path to the majors began when the Minnesota Twins drafted him in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Oregon. The Twins later traded Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to Cincinnati in 2022 in exchange for Tyler Mahle. That year he debuted with the Reds, appearing in 28 games and posting a modest .632 OPS.
In the following season, Steer surpassed rookie limits, delivering 23 home runs while posting a line of .271/.356/.464 and finishing sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He would go on to hit 20 or more homers in each of the next two seasons, yet each campaign still registered below-average offense by some metrics. Nevertheless, Steer managed to remain a regular in the lineup, appearing in at least 146 games in each of his first three full seasons. Through 88 games this year, he has accounted for 14 home runs and a .240/.3233/.421 slash line.
Offense has not been Steer’s primary problem, though. His defense has raised questions, aided by the fact that he has logged just one season with a positive Outs Above Average, according to Baseball Savant. While he has experience in both corner outfield spots, center field represents a markedly different challenge. Steer’s sprint speed sits in the 82nd percentile this season, yet his range in center is lacking, and his arm value sits in the 28th percentile—far from sufficient for a true center fielder.
Despite having 206 career outfield appearances in the major leagues, experience does not automatically equate to success for Steer. He owns a -11 OAA in the corner outfield positions, and the switch to center field demands greater range and stronger throwing than he has demonstrated. The combination of required range, athleticism, and arm strength suggests that long-term success in center field could be unlikely for him, particularly if limited to the position for an extended stretch.
This situation is not a knock on Steer. He has fulfilled every request the organization has levelled at him, including shifting from his natural infield position to the corner outfield on multiple occasions. If this is meant to be a short-term remedy while the Reds get healthier, or merely a stopgap before a potential external move, there is some logic to it. But if Steer is to man center field every day in the pursuit of stability until the Reds’ other outfield options return, the defense could take a notable hit.
Friedl and Marte, despite their offensive struggles this season, bring more proven center-field tools and experience to the table than Steer. They possess tangible skills that align better with the demands of center field, including better range and more applicable defensive repertoires. The decision to deploy Steer in center appears to be a strategic experiment born of necessity, but it also risks exposing a significant defensive gap at a critical position.
Regardless of intent, this move is unusual enough to draw attention beyond the on-field impact. If it proves temporary, it could be explained as a pragmatic response to a health crisis in the outfield, with the hope of returning to a more conventional configuration once healthier options are available. If it signals a broader shift or an expectation that Steer will anchor center field moving forward, the Reds may confront a pronounced decline in defensive efficiency. In either scenario, the decision stands out as perplexing, particularly given the center-field responsibilities and the higher defensive bar that position demands.