Spencer Steer has stepped up in key moments throughout the past week and is starting to resemble the player that Cincinnati Reds fans have come to know and appreciate.
His three-run homer in the seventh inning on Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs gave the Reds the lead for good, helping them secure a series win over one of their toughest division rivals—a team they’re currently pursuing in the standings.
Steer’s struggles in the early-going of 2025 were evident, but his manager stuck with him. Following Steer’s heroics on Tuesday night, Terry Francona spoke very highly of the Reds first baseman and revealed what most fans already knew.
Reds manager Terry Francona finally says the quiet part out loud about Spencer Steer
Steer spoke with FanDuel Sports Network reporter Jim Day after the game, “What happened in the past happened in the past,” Steer said of his early season struggles. “I’m just trying to find a way to be a tough out that day and help the team win.”
Day also had a conversation with Francona after the game as well, and spoke to the Reds skipper about Steer’s post-game comments. “Well, what I would say is, if you take his first 50-60 at-bats away, his numbers aren’t down,” Francona said. “And he did that because he’s a team guy. He probably shouldn’t have been playing. So, he’s the guy he is right now.”
Steer dealt with a shoulder injury during spring training, which initially kept him off the Reds’ Opening Day roster. However, an injury to Austin Hays opened the door for Steer to join the roster, though he only served as the team’s designated hitter at first.
If you exclude Steer’s first 59 plate appearances—something Francona suggested—his numbers now stand at .260/.324/.424 with a 105 wRC+. Over his first two-plus seasons, Steer posted a .245/.335/.425 line with a 106 wRC+. This supports Tito’s assessment, and Steer’s resurgence has been evident since he returned to the field in late April.
Baseball fans often say a player’s stats tend to even out over the course of a 162-game season, and Steer is a prime example of that. Reds fans are optimistic about seeing more of this performance over the final two months, especially as Cincinnati aims for its first playoff appearance since 2020.
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