The Cincinnati Reds have been making headlines today. With pitchers and catchers reporting yesterday, several updates have emerged, including concerns over rookie Rhett Lowder’s sore elbow, which will limit his throwing program early in spring training.
The team also made roster moves, signing relievers Scott Barlow to a major league contract and Josh Staumont to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp. Later in the afternoon, Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer reported that Spencer Steer is still dealing with shoulder discomfort and will initially be limited to designated hitter duties this spring.
This isn’t the most encouraging news to start camp, especially since Steer had the entire offseason to recover but still hasn’t fully healed.
It’s unclear exactly when Steer’s shoulder issues began in 2024, but his struggles at the plate became evident over the final six weeks of the season. From August 15 onward, he played 40 games and hit just .191/.301/.312. After a scorching start—posting a .999 OPS in his first 20 games—his production dipped significantly, finishing the final 138 games with a .211/.301/.380 slash line.
Since the end of the 2024 season, the Reds have bolstered both their offense and pitching depth in hopes of improving their overall performance. However, if they want to take a significant step forward, they’ll likely need Steer—and others—to elevate their offensive production this season.
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