Spencer Steer Had A Cortisone Shot And Was Scratched Before Reds' Win.

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Dateline: 318 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Spencer Steer struggled all last season with shoulder pain. His hitting numbers were down and although there is no pain when he swings, the body may have compensated for the pain.

This spring Terry Francona and the training staff were trying to help him navigate spring training. He could swing the bat, run, lift weights and field ground balls, he just couldn’t throw. Steer’s arm hurt every time he got into position to throw.

The team doctor, Andrew Razzano,examined Steer Saturday morning and administered a cortisone shot.

Set to be the DH, Steer was scratched.

“The plan is to get me over the hump. It’s seemed like I’ve been treading water the last week, trying to get back to throwing. I think it’s a step in the right direction,” Steer said.

The cause of the shoulder ailment? The medical staff couldn’t find any structural damage.

“There were a lot of inefficiencies. I was trying to compensate for my injuries and got into a lot of bad habits mechanically. The body is smart and it finds ways to compensate and fight through injuries,” Steer said. 

Steer’s batting average dropped from 275 his rookie year in 2023 but his power numbers were close. He hit 37 doubles in 2023 and 34 last season. He hit 23 home runs in 2023 and 20 last season. He was productive. Steer drove in a team leading 86 RBI in 2023 and led the team with 92 last season. He stole 10 more bases in 2024, 25 than he did in 2023, getting caught stealing three times in both seasons.

Still he developed some bad habits from the injury as tried to gut it out.

“I didn’t have pain swinging the bat or lifting weights but I think it was aggravating it. The rehab I was doing was a little bit good and a little bit bad, so I feel like I was falling and not really getting any better. That’s why they shut me down.”

“I definitely had some mechanical stuff in my swing that I was doing naturally because I couldn’t get my swing into hitting position, because of the lack of mobility in my shoulder,” Steer said. “

There is no timetable for his return and manager Terry Francona doesn’t want to put an arbitrary time limit on Steer’s return to full go.

“It’s not like a torn ligament when you know how long it takes to heal,” Steer said.

The Reds don’t want him to play hurt another season and would rather he came back when his pain issues are resolved.

“We don’t know what his timeline is going to be,” Francona said. “We said all along. We’re going to do what’s right for him. Everybody points to opening day and I get it, myself included. Regardless, and I’m not saying he won’t be ready, we’ve got to do what’s right for him. He played last year and he gutted through doing it again doesn’t make much sense.”

“He was having trouble getting comfortable in his at bats. Just his load. It’s not fair to him.”

Pitching

Brady Singer had mixed results in his 2 ⅔ innings but Nick Martinez turned in an excellent second outing on the mound.

Singer allowed four hits and two runs in his second stint. He walked two and struck out two. Martinez pitched two innings as planned. He walked one and struck out three in his second scoreless outing. Martinez was so efficient, he went to the bullpen to throw more pitches.

“I felt good. I wasn’t as sharp in the second inning. I fell behind in some counts and left the ball over the middle,” Singer said.

“I was a little light so I went to the bullpen and got the pitch count to where we wanted,” Martinez said. “I’ve only had two outings but I’m feeling good just attacking the zone.”

The goal the next time through the rotation is three innings.

“Again it was his second outing, a long second inning. I think he was getting under some pitches. Martinez was really good,” Francona said. 

Hitting:

Hitting stars for the Reds in the 7-3 win over the San Diego Padres were.

Matt McLain had two hits, including a double, giving him three doubles and a home run among his seven hits. Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit his second home run of the spring, a line drive that carried to left field clearing the fence.

Elly De La Cruz was 1-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and two strikeouts.

“I really liked Elly’s at bat with a runner on second. He drove the ball to right field. He didn’t give himself up. You saw his whole game. He stole third and started getting the line moving there,” Francona said. 

Tony Santillan The Gentle Giant Will Be In The Reds' Bullpen

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Dateline: 318 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Tony Santillan was one of the few pitchers that did not get hit hard by the Oakland A’s in a 13-1 conquering of the Reds on Friday afternoon.

Connor Phillips was another, who pitched two scoreless innings.

Phillps status is in doubt but Santillan’s is not.

In a pregame press meeting before the Reds’ Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres, Terry Francona said as much about the pitcher who is out of options and would have to be placed on waivers to send him down to the minor leagues.

Santillan is 6 '3 " and tips the scales at 285 pounds with a stare that can put chills up a Polar Bear’s spine. Yet, he is quiet and respectful in the clubhouse.

“I agree with everything you just said about him,” manager Terry Francona confirmed. “But when he’s on the mound, I think he would rip your heart out, which is fine with me.”

“He’s the gentle giant  in the food room but you get him on the field he might hit you in the neck,” Francona said. “I heard DJ (pitching coach) Derek Johnson rave about him. What I’ve seen so far he can really help us.”

“He doesn’t have to worry about the options. He’s going to pitch for us,” Francona said.

“You kind of have to consider options,” Francona said. “If you ask any manager opening day they want their best 26, myself included. The general manager and the president, they’re more like the caretaker. They have to look at the macro, is that what it’s called, macro, micro view. You can’t just have your roster set for opening day. You gotta realize that if something happens and it’s gonna happen. You have to make some moves. If you pigeon hole yourself, you can really screw that up. It can make for some tough conversations with kids, you just have to be honest.”

Phillips had a nightmare regular season but rallied enough to pitch very well in the Arizona Fall League. He could very well be in one of those tough conversations on March 24 when the Reds break camp. The 23-year old is under Reds control until the end of the 2030 season, which makes it easier for the Reds to send him down and keep a pitcher with more seniority.

He put together two good outings this spring including against the Athletics, who were hitting everyone. There are plenty more pitching assignments for Phillips and making the Reds’ rotation would be serendipitous.

“He was good yesterday,” Francona said. “It was fun to watch. He threw 97. He threw more strikes than not. It was really good to see.”

The wild card for Phillips is not only the competition with Chase Petty, 21, who has allowed one hit and one walk in four scoreless innings.

The health of Andrew Abbott and Rhett Lowder are in the weeds.

Lowder is throwing on flat ground and progressing through his recovery from a sore elbow.

“We are really pleased with his progress,” Francona said. “He’s behind the others but not that far.”

Abbott was shut down last season with tightness in his left shoulder. He also had to battle the flu. He is farther behind but is throwing.