The Cincinnati Reds are heading into the second half with center field still very much in flux, and Dane Myers is now in line for a bigger role.
Myers has returned from the injured list, and manager Francona made it clear the Reds plan to lean on him more than they did earlier in the season.
“You’ll probably see him play more than he was,” Francona said. “The hard part is he does such a good job being that righty off the bench, kind of a weapon. But where we’re at right now, you’ll probably see him play more than he did before.”
Right now, Myers and TJ Friedl are the center fielders on the active roster, but that picture has changed plenty already. Spencer Steer filled in for a couple of starts while Myers was sidelined, and Matt McLain also got a few starts there. McLain is making good progress as he works back from a calf strain, while Blake Dunn is still out with an elbow injury.
For most of the first three months, Myers was used in a specific lane: starting against left-handed pitchers, pinch-hitting against left-handed pitchers and serving as a defensive replacement. He entered the season buried behind Friedl, Will Benson and Noelvi Marte on the center field depth chart.
Even in that limited role, Myers gave the Reds useful at-bats and steady defense. His numbers against right-handed pitching haven’t been strong, but they’ve been passable, and he’s handled the job without complaint.
“It’s tough to be successful and feel confident when you get spotty at-bats, but if that’s the role I need to play to help the team I’m fine with it,” Myers said. “I’m prepared and doing my work before the game so when the game does come I’m feeling ready to go.”
He also welcomed the idea of getting more chances against right-handers.
“It means a lot,” Myers said. “If (Francona) is putting me out there, he thinks I can help the team win.
To have that confidence is cool. I’ve always felt he’s confident in me.”
The Reds brought Myers in during the offseason, and his glove may be the biggest reason he’s now positioned for more action. He’s the best defensive outfielder on the roster, and that alone could keep him in the lineup more often.
Friedl’s path has been much bumpier. After looking like one of the best center fielders in baseball between 2023 and 2025 and one of the game’s best leadoff hitters during the 2025 season, he’s had a rough 2026.
The Reds benched him in mid-May, then optioned him to Triple-A in June. He came back up after Dunn went on the injured list, but he still hasn’t seized the opening to reclaim the job.
Myers’ own return comes after a three-week absence from June 29 to July 17 because of a shoulder contusion suffered in a frightening crash at the wall.
“Immediately, it was scary,” Myers said on Friday after being activated. “My ribs were hurting.
My shoulder got the worst of it. I got the wind knocked out of me.
Having my ribs hurt and not being able to breathe at the same time was scary. The best case scenario turned out.
I’m happy to be back.”
While Myers was out, McLain and Steer split the work behind Friedl. McLain has experience in center from college, but Steer was making a much rarer appearance there - his first since Little League. That versatility mattered when the Reds were stretched thin.
“(Steer) does whatever the team needs with no ifs, ands or buts,” Friedl said. “Whatever they need him to do, he does it.
That’s how it’s always been. That’s the kind of teammate he is, and it speaks to his character.”
Now that Myers is back, Steer should move away from center field and return to the spots that fit him best: first base and the corner outfield.
Dunn, though, has been the most productive of the Reds’ center field options overall this season, hitting .282 with plenty of speed. He’s still sidelined with the elbow injury he suffered at the end of June, and there’s no timeline yet for his return.
“It’s been tough,” Dunn said. “I want to be out there playing with my teammates. I’m trying to take it day-by-day.”
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