ATLANTA -- Hopes that Spencer Steer could let a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist heal on its own with therapy and treatment were finally dashed. The Reds’ utility player will undergo surgery to repair the injury on Sept. 30 in Phoenix.
Steer, 28, was doing better as recently as earlier this month and was cleared to start taking swings.
“He took some pretty aggressive swings in Cincinnati Saturday and it kind of grabbed at him a little bit," manager Terry Francona said. "So rather than put it off, I think he was ready.”
Wrist specialist Dr. Donald Sheridan is scheduled to perform the surgery. Expectations are that Steer will be ready for Spring Training next season.
“That’s part of why we want to do it now," Francona said.
Steer batted .238 with a .740 OPS, 16 home runs and 40 RBIs in 98 games this season while playing six positions -- including all three in the outfield and every infield spot except for shortstop.
Initially diagnosed with a right wrist sprain, Steer was injured while swinging in an at-bat vs. the Cardinals on July 26 and went on the injured list the following day.
In other injury news, reliever Tony Santillan is scheduled to have left hip surgery on Thursday to repair a labral tear. It won't be known until after the operation how long it will be before Santillan can return to pitching for Cincinnati.
Over 44 appearances this season during a down year, Santillan was 3-4 with a 6.42 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. He also missed two months from June 23-Aug. 21 with a left oblique strain.