Spencer

Steer

Stewart’s playing-time storyline feels less like a minor subplot and more like a central theme this spring, as Cincinnati simply may not have everyday at-bats available for him alongside Eugenio Suárez and Spencer Steer. The Reds also have veteran Nathaniel Lowe in camp as another first base option. The 22-year-old power-hitting prospect is expected to focus primarily on first base during camp as he competes for a starting role at the cold corner. His occasional appearances at second base appear to be less about a permanent positional shift and more about expanding his defensive résumé.

Stewart has reportedly lost over 20 pounds this offseason and is expected to focus primarily on playing first base this spring with defensive stalwart Ke’Bryan Hayes occupying the hot corner in Cincinnati. The 22-year-old power-hitting prospect has a chance to be an immediate four-category impact fantasy producer after slashing a robust .309/.383/.524 with 20 homers and 17 steals in 494 plate appearances between Double-A Dayton and Triple-A Louisville last season. He’ll compete with incumbent Spencer Steer for the starting job at first base but there’s a clear path to everyday at-bats at DH after the Reds jettisoned Gavin Lux earlier this month. Stewart projects as an immediate 20-homer, 10-steal threat, which makes him an intriguing late-round selection in fantasy drafts this spring. He’s a top-20 overall prospect for dynasty purposes.

Steer is very much in line to be the Reds’ first baseman once again, even though he’s regressed offensively and just doesn’t seem like a very good option at this point. Aided by his home ballpark, he did wind up a sort-of-respectable .238/.312/.411 line last season. However, with his subpar exit velocity numbers, Statcast gave him just a .220 xBA and a .355 xSLG. Because of his ballpark and the possibility that he’ll hit cleanup, he could be a fantasy contributor in shallow leagues if he only bounces back a little bit. Alternatively, he could be overtaken by Sal Stewart, who has to play somewhere, and/or Christian Encarnacion-Strand if he doesn’t get off to a nice start.

Stewart will get an opportunity in the heart of Cincinnati’s lineup to face Dodgers co-ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto after coming off the bench during the late stages of Tuesday’s series opener. The 21-year-old top prospect adds some serious thunder to the middle of the order in a win-or-go-home spot for the Reds after homering five times in 18 regular-season contests after being called up in early September. Here’s the full lineup: TJ Friedl (CF), Spencer Steer (LF), Gavin Lux (DH), Austin Hays (RF), Stewart (1B), Elly De La Cruz (SS), Tyler Stephenson (C), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B) and Matt McLain (2B).

Hays missed seven consecutive games to close out the regular season due to back spasms. The 30-year-old corner outfielder is back in left field and batting cleanup against lefty Blake Snell on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Here’s the full lineup: TJ Friedl (CF), Noelvi Marte (RF), Miguel Andujar (DH), Hays (LF), Spencer Steer (1B), Elly De La Cruz (SS), Tyler Stephenson (C), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B) and Matt McLain (2B).

Spencer Steer heads out to left field with top prospect Sal Stewart covering first base with Hays still out of the lineup due to a lingering back issue. The 30-year-old corner outfielder hasn’t played since last weekend. It’s a pivotal matchup for the Reds as they control their own destiny for the final NL Wild Card playoff spot heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

Stewart takes a seat for the second consecutive contest after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts during Thursday’s series opener against the Cubs. It’ll be Spencer Steer at the cold corner with defensive standout Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base. The 21-year-old top prospect has homered four times in 14 games since arriving in the big leagues earlier this month.

After starting just one of seven games from Sept. 9-16, Steer, who has been dealing with leg and neck issues, has been at first base each of the last three and gone 5-for-10 with three homers and eight RBI. He became the first Reds player to reach 20 homers this year, beating Elly De La Cruz by about three minutes when the two homered consecutively in the sixth inning.

Steer had a pair of run-scoring hits, with the biggest being his three-run blast off Andre Pallante. He added two more RBI to push his total to 69 on the season with a single to score a pair in the seventh. Steer has been up-and-down in 2025 due to injury and performance when healthy, but he’s now the owner of 18 homers and a .716 OPS in 476 at-bats.

Steer has been out since last Friday and recently went to a chiropractor to get an adjustment for his troublesome neck. Apparently, medical school works wonders because Steer is back in the lineup on Wednesday. Sal Stewart will shift from first base to third base, and Ke’Bryan Hayes will have the day off.