Dane Myers Is Back. Can a Defense-First Outfielder Help the Reds Change Direction?

The Cincinnati Reds didn’t make any big trade deadline moves to shake up their roster. What they did do Friday was much quieter: they activated outfielder Dane Myers from the 10-day injured list and sent infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson back to Triple-A.

Myers has been out since late June after crashing into the outfield wall hard enough to hurt his shoulder. He made the catch on that play, by the way, and didn’t make an error on it. That kind of sums up what he brings: a willingness to run through a wall, literally, and reliable hands when he gets there.

Now, Myers isn’t going to scare anybody with his bat. Through 63 games he’s hitting .256 with three homers and 14 RBIs. Those numbers won’t move needles. But the Reds aren’t looking for him to carry the lineup. They need him to do what he does best — play solid defense and punish left-handed pitching.

Against lefties, Myers has been reasonably effective: .254 with two of his three home runs and four of his five stolen bases. That’s a real skill for a team that has struggled to find consistent at-bats against southpaws. Expect him to get plenty of looks in those matchups going forward.

The bigger picture in Cincinnati

Let’s be honest about where the Reds are right now. They entered Friday at 43-52, sitting 12.5 games back in the NL Central and eight games out of a Wild Card spot. That’s not great. The trade deadline is approaching, and there’s a real chance Cincinnati operates as a seller.

But for however long Myers is on the roster — whether that’s through the deadline or beyond — the Reds are hoping he can provide some stability. He’s made zero errors this season. His defense has been quietly excellent. And in a season that has gone sideways in a lot of ways, sometimes you just need a guy who catches the ball and doesn’t hurt you.

The Reds will be watching his shoulder closely. Coming back from a wall collision isn’t always a straight line. But Myers wanted back in, cleared his rehab assignment, and now he’s here.

Whether that matters much for a team on the playoff fringe is a fair question. But for a lineup that could use some dependable outs and a little energy, it’s something.