Spencer Steer was listed to start in center field for the Reds on Friday, a move that put him in a spot he had never played before at Oregon, in the Minor Leagues or in the Major Leagues. He was also listed third in the order as the Reds rearranged their lineup for a game against the Cubs.
The switch came as the lineup was released on social media before Friday's game at Great American Ball Park, with the Reds still sorting through an outfield that has leaned on temporary solutions. Matt McLain had played center field for a few games before going on the IL on Friday, and Ke'Bryan Hayes returned to the Reds the same day, leaving the club to patch together the middle of the field again.
Steer has been willing to move wherever the team needs him, but this was a step into a position he had never handled at any previous level. He has played both corner outfield spots this season, though his minus-11 outs above average in the corners shows the Reds have not been getting clean production there either. That is part of why the club looked for another answer instead of simply sliding another familiar outfielder into the job.
The choice points to a roster that remains in motion rather than a permanent change in plan. The Reds have kept using temporary fixes in the outfield, and fans have been asking for a better answer there for years. Friday's alignment solved the immediate problem by getting a bat and a flexible defender into center field, but it did not settle how long Steer will stay there.
For now, the move reads as a short-term patch rather than a declaration. If Steer holds the spot beyond Friday, it will mean the Reds have decided his glove and versatility are better than the alternatives. If not, the club will be back to searching for another center fielder as soon as the next lineup comes out.
