Spencer Steer
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Spencer Steer
|image = Spencer Steer with Wichita (cropped).jpg
|caption = Steer with the Wichita Wind Surge in 2021
|team = Cincinnati Reds
|number = 7
|position = Utility player
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|12|7}}
|birth_place = Long Beach, California, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 2
|debutyear = 2022
|debutteam = Cincinnati Reds
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = July 5, 2025
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .247
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 55
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 223
|teams =
- Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2022}}–present)
}}
Spencer Gordon Steer (born December 7, 1997) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Amateur career
Steer attended Millikan High School in Long Beach, California.{{cite web | last=Fiddler | first=JJ | title=Millikan’s Spencer Steer named 2016 Dream Team Baseball Player of the Year | website=Press Telegram | date=2016-06-28 | url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2016/06/28/millikans-spencer-steer-named-2016-dream-team-baseball-player-of-the-year/ | access-date=2025-06-22}} He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 29th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign and played college baseball at the University of Oregon. In 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1211057&seasonid=31242 |title=#20 Spencer Steer |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}} Steer was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.registerguard.com/sports/20190604/oregon-baseballs-spencer-steer-drafted-by-minnesota-twins|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809032008/www.registerguard.com/sports/20190604/oregon-baseballs-spencer-steer-drafted-by-minnesota-twins|archive-date=August 9, 2021|title=Oregon baseball's Spencer Steer drafted by Minnesota Twins}}
Professional career
=Minnesota Twins=
File:Spencer Steer (220902-F-JW079-1372).jpg
Steer made his professional debut with the Elizabethton Twins and Cedar Rapids Kernels.{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Jeff | title=Spencer Steer has been bullish at the plate thus far for Cedar Rapids Kernels | website=The Gazette | date=July 27, 2019 | url=https://www.thegazette.com/minor-league-sports/spencer-steer-has-been-bullish-at-the-plate-thus-far-for-cedar-rapids-kernels/ | access-date=February 9, 2025}} He did not play a minor league game in 2020 because the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=Adler | first=David | title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled | website=MLB.com | date=June 30, 2020 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled | access-date=February 9, 2025}} He started 2021 with Cedar Rapids before being promoted to the Wichita Wind Surge.{{cite web | last=Kleinhans-Schulz | first=Chris | title=Trey Cabbage, Spencer Steer Promoted to Wichita | website=MiLB.com | date=February 9, 2025 | url=https://www.milb.com/cedar-rapids/press-release/trey-cabbage-spencer-steer-promoted-to-wichita | access-date=February 9, 2025}} Over 110 games between the two teams, Steer slashed .254/.348/.484 with 24 home runs and 66 RBIs.
=Cincinnati Reds=
On August 2, 2022, the Twins traded Steer, Steve Hajjar, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Tyler Mahle.{{cite web | last=Park | first=Do-Hyoung | title=Tyler Mahle joins Twins in trade | website=MLB.com | date=August 3, 2022 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/tyler-mahle-twins-trade | access-date=February 9, 2025}}
On September 1, 2022, the Reds selected Steer's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.{{Cite web |last=Nightengale |first=Bobby |date=September 1, 2022 |title=Reds promote prospect Spencer Steer and reliever Fernando Cruz as rosters expand |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2022/09/01/cincinnati-reds-promote-prospect-spencer-steer-pitcher-fernando-cruz/65467750007/ |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=The Enquirer |language=en-US}} He made his debut the next day, going 2 for 2 with a home run for his first Major League hit, a double, and walking twice. In the 28 games Steer appeared in, he ended the season slashing .211/.306/.326.{{Cite web |title=Spencer Steer Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/steersp01.shtml |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
In 2023, Steer played 73 games at first base, 48 games in the outfield, 47 games at third base, and 16 games at second base. Over 156 games, he hit .271 with 23 home runs, 15 stolen bases, 74 runs, and 86 RBI.
In 2024, Steer played 102 games in the outfield, 63 games at first base, 7 games at second base, and 1 game at shortstop. He suffered a steep drop in batting average from .271 to .225, but hit 20 home runs and stole 25 bases.
On June 27, 2025, Steer hit his first career three-home run game against the San Diego Padres and became the first Reds player with a 3-HR game since Jesse Winker in 2021.{{cite web |last=Denton |first=John |title=What a night! Reds ride Martinez's near no-no, Steer's 3 HRs to rout |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nick-martinez-near-no-no-spencer-steer-3-homers-lift-reds-to-win-over-padres |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB News |access-date=June 27, 2025 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=668715|espn=4722857|br=s/steersp01|fangraphs=26323|brm=steer-000spe|retro=S/Pstees001}}
{{Cincinnati Reds roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steer, Spencer}}
Category:Baseball players from Long Beach, California
Category:Cedar Rapids Kernels players
Category:Cincinnati Reds players
Category:Elizabethton Twins players
Category:Louisville Bats players
Category:Major League Baseball infielders
Category:Millikan High School alumni
Category:Oregon Ducks baseball players
Category:Orleans Firebirds players