Despite shoulder issue, Steer steps up for Reds: 'He's a dawg'

CINCINNATI -- Spencer Steer didn't let a right shoulder issue and minimal Spring Training plate appearances stop him from being on the field for the Reds on Opening Day.

After he had only seven Cactus League at-bats in three spring games, Steer was earmarked for the injured list until Wednesday. Then, the club reversed course after Austin Hays came down with a strained left calf and ended up on the IL. Add in catcher Tyler Stephenson's left oblique strain, and the Reds lineup was suddenly very shorthanded.

Steer, who played his last spring game on Feb. 27, received a cortisone shot for his sore shoulder on March 1. Although he remained on the active roster, he’s limited to being the designated hitter.

“It means a lot for him," Reds second baseman Matt McLain said. "Knowing he didn’t get in a ton of reps and stuff but Hays went down and kind of [it was], ‘Steer, we need you.’ And he knew that. We all love him in the lineup. He’s a dawg. He takes competitive at-bats."

After the cortisone shot, Steer didn't resume swinging until nearly the final week of camp and didn't begin throwing until the final days. He got into a couple of Minor League games as the designated hitter and took swings against teammates in batting practice.

Steer, who never had spent a day on the IL and averaged 157 games over his two seasons in Cincinnati, sought an opportunity to speak to manager Terry Francona one more time after Hays went down.

“I went in there, and we just talked it through," Steer said on Thursday. "We’ve had good communication the entire time. That’s one thing that he’s been really good at, is communicating with me about what the situation is, what he’s thinking and he asked me what I was thinking. He wanted to hear my opinion, too. It was a two-way conversation. We talked our way through it and came to the solution of let’s DH for now and let the arm come around as well.”

Steer batted .225 with a .721 OPS, 20 home runs and a team-leading 92 RBIs last season but played with a sore shoulder. MRI exams found no structural damage or cause for an impingement and he worked all offseason to rehab it to no avail once camp arrived.

Without Hays in left field, a domino effect happened to Cincinnati's lineup. Gavin Lux, who was expected to be at third base, replaced Hays in the outfield. Expected DH Jeimer Candelario went to third base and Steer became the DH instead.

There is no timetable yet for when Steer's arm could be ready for him to play a position. He can play every spot except shortstop and left field.

"Having him even two out of three is better than not having him," Francona said. "The biggest thing is he wanted to do it. He was pretty adamant that he was ready to do it.”

"It’s definitely different. I think I can add value to this team and help us win by just DHing," Steer said.

Despite the lack of reps in camp, Steer felt like he could handle going in the regular season from the start.

"It’s different when the guy on the mound is wearing a different jersey. It’s a different kind of adrenaline rush," he said. "There’s a different feel. There’s another gear once the game starts. I’m not worried about the at-bats. I feel ready.”

During Cincinnati's 6-4 loss on Thursday to the Giants, Steer was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

"Days like that happen. I had one of those days," said McLain, who was 0-for-5. "He had one of those days. It’s baseball. You’ve got to keep playing."