Spencer Steer’s ongoing proper shoulder drawback has been one of many key storylines of the Reds’ spring camp, and supervisor Terry Francona had some optimistic information about Steer’s standing in dialog immediately with MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and different reporters. Steer’s shoulder confirmed “marked enchancment” throughout an examination yesterday, Francona stated, and the group’s plan is for Steer to begin a swinging development sooner or later this week.
It’s nonetheless too early come what may to know if Steer will be prepared for Cincinnati’s Opening Day lineup, although it’s a good signal that Steer’s shoulder appears to be responding properly to the cortisone shot he obtained final week. Steer felt ok to play as a DH in three Cactus League video games prior his cortisone shot, as he associated to reporters final weekend that he has no discomfort when swinging and even straight throwing, however he feels a twinge in his proper shoulder when he’s getting ready to throw.
This difficulty has been bothering Steer since final season, and his shoulder tweak has continued even after the offseason. The Reds may proceed to let Steer play solely as a DH, however Francona has already said that the group desires this harm to be corrected as soon as and for all, so Steer can proceed his ordinary position within the discipline. That is of specific import to the Reds for the reason that versatile Steer was slated to spend time at each nook infield positions and in left discipline, and limiting Steer simply to designated hitter obligation wouldn’t be best. Retaining Steer out of motion solely and on the injured listing can also be clearly not a great state of affairs, but giving Steer extra time to completely recuperate has long-term advantages.
In different Reds harm information, prospect Cam Collier suffered a torn UCL in his left thumb and can bear surgical procedure to appropriate the issue on Thursday, Francona advised the media (together with Pat Brennan of the Cincinnati Enquirer). Collier gained’t be capable to hit for the subsequent 4-6 weeks, although he gained’t be solely stored out of all baseball-related actions. Francona famous that “hopefully whereas he’s down he can simply [work on] his legs and switch one thing that might be perceived as a damaging right into a optimistic.”
Collier was chosen 18th total within the 2022 draft, and he’s rated as one in all baseball’s prime 100 prospects by The Athletic’s Keith Legislation (who ranked Collier 83rd) and MLB Pipeline (ninetieth). Collier hit .248/.355/.443 with 20 house runs in 507 plate appearances with high-A Dayton final season, and he already has elements of three professional seasons on his resume earlier than his twentieth birthday. Whereas Collier confirmed improvement on the plate, nevertheless, Legislation raised questions on his weight and conditioning, and the chance that Collier would possibly dimension himself out of his pure third base place.
