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Even as his shoulder remained a consistent ailment throughout spring training, Spencer Steer was always confident he could help the Cincinnati Reds with his bat.
After what felt like a battle throughout spring training to make the cut for Opening Day, Steer will at least have the chance to lend his bat to the Reds' cause for the foreseeable future. For now, his role will be that of a full-time designated hitter after a Wednesday conversation with manager Terry Francona and others that convinced them to keep him off the injured list to start the season.
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The late, unexpected calf injury that claimed Austin Hays for a 10-day stint on the IL changed the roster calculus for the Reds this week, and Steer then stumped for his own cause one final time on Wednesday.
He went into the meeting slated for the IL and emerged on the club's active roster.
Steer's Wednesday assertion was the continuation of a spring training-long conversation in which Steer conveyed that he was an able hitter even if playing defensively was out of the question.
"I don't want to miss any games. That's kind of just the number one thing, and I feel like I can help this lineup even if I'm limited to just hitting," Steer said after a simulated game Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. "I kind of went in there today for one last chance at it and, like I said, they were all for it.
"I'm honestly really pumped because it didn't look good for a while."
Steer said he's been getting at-bats against live pitching every day for the last week, and his rhythm at the plate is where it needs to be.
Defensively, Steer said he's started throwing. He didn't put a timetable on how that would progress.
However his spot on the active roster was saved, Steer successfully avoided the first IL stint of his career at every level he's played.
"This was definitely the goal, to be ready for Opening Day whether I was full-go or just hitting," Steer said. "I've never been a full-time 'DH' before but I like the challenge and we'll see how it goes."
Losing Steer’s bat after he was one of the club's most consistent hitters in recent seasons was going to be an especially big blow, coming in the wake of the oblique injury expected to keep catcher Tyler Stephenson sidelined for a month or more (Stephenson was placed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday).
In announcing the roster move earlier Wednesday, Francona jokingly said: "Everything you heard me say about Steer (before), erase it. OK? I didn't mean it."
"He can 'DH' some. He doesn't have to do it every day," Francona said. "I think this biggest thing is he wanted to do it. I wasn't comfortable doing it to him and asking him after everything we'd talked about. He was pretty adamant that he was ready to do it."
During his afternoon news conference at Great American Ball Park, Francona also announced that outfielders Blake Dunn and Jacob Hurtubise had made the Opening Day roster, and that Stuart Fairchild would be designated for assignment on Thursday.
Fairchild was out of contractual minor-league options. He was a Reds veteran of 229 games and 119 hits for Cincinnati the last three seasons.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Spencer Steer made his case for the Reds' Opening Day roster
Continue reading...
After what felt like a battle throughout spring training to make the cut for Opening Day, Steer will at least have the chance to lend his bat to the Reds' cause for the foreseeable future. For now, his role will be that of a full-time designated hitter after a Wednesday conversation with manager Terry Francona and others that convinced them to keep him off the injured list to start the season.
Reds Opening Day Terry Francona Why Terry Francona opens three-year window of win-now urgency for Cincinnati Reds
Reds Opening Day Elly De La Cruz Elly De La Cruz on his favorite Cincinnati restaurant, the city's chili and winning it all
Reds Opening Day Big Red Machine Going to a Reds game in 2025? Check out the Big Red Machine exhibit while you're there
The late, unexpected calf injury that claimed Austin Hays for a 10-day stint on the IL changed the roster calculus for the Reds this week, and Steer then stumped for his own cause one final time on Wednesday.
He went into the meeting slated for the IL and emerged on the club's active roster.
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Steer's Wednesday assertion was the continuation of a spring training-long conversation in which Steer conveyed that he was an able hitter even if playing defensively was out of the question.
"I don't want to miss any games. That's kind of just the number one thing, and I feel like I can help this lineup even if I'm limited to just hitting," Steer said after a simulated game Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. "I kind of went in there today for one last chance at it and, like I said, they were all for it.
"I'm honestly really pumped because it didn't look good for a while."
Steer said he's been getting at-bats against live pitching every day for the last week, and his rhythm at the plate is where it needs to be.
Defensively, Steer said he's started throwing. He didn't put a timetable on how that would progress.
However his spot on the active roster was saved, Steer successfully avoided the first IL stint of his career at every level he's played.
"This was definitely the goal, to be ready for Opening Day whether I was full-go or just hitting," Steer said. "I've never been a full-time 'DH' before but I like the challenge and we'll see how it goes."
You must be registered for see images
Losing Steer’s bat after he was one of the club's most consistent hitters in recent seasons was going to be an especially big blow, coming in the wake of the oblique injury expected to keep catcher Tyler Stephenson sidelined for a month or more (Stephenson was placed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday).
In announcing the roster move earlier Wednesday, Francona jokingly said: "Everything you heard me say about Steer (before), erase it. OK? I didn't mean it."
"He can 'DH' some. He doesn't have to do it every day," Francona said. "I think this biggest thing is he wanted to do it. I wasn't comfortable doing it to him and asking him after everything we'd talked about. He was pretty adamant that he was ready to do it."
During his afternoon news conference at Great American Ball Park, Francona also announced that outfielders Blake Dunn and Jacob Hurtubise had made the Opening Day roster, and that Stuart Fairchild would be designated for assignment on Thursday.
Fairchild was out of contractual minor-league options. He was a Reds veteran of 229 games and 119 hits for Cincinnati the last three seasons.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Spencer Steer made his case for the Reds' Opening Day roster
Continue reading...
