It’s early in the season but Cincinnati Reds’ rookie first baseman Sal Stewart has emerged as a leading contender for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
The last time the Reds won a World Series championship was in 1990. You would have to go back to 2012 to see them winning the National League Central Division last. And last season, Cincinnati squeaked into the MLB Wild Card Series only to be swept in two games by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s been a long time since Reds’ fans could be as excited and optimistic about their ballclub this early in a season. So, now that the Reds are off to one of their best starts in years, winning nine of their last 11 games, Sal Stewart has emerged as a new leader making the difference in Reds manager Terry Francona’s lineup.
Stewart’s contributions during the club’s first 27 games of the 2026 season can’t be understated. His offensive statistics are eye-popping. Whereas the Reds as a team are batting .213, dead last among all 30 MLB clubs, Stewart is turning heads with a .303 average; good for 20th among MLB batters. His nine home runs place Stewart in a five-way tie for fourth place. Stewart, 22, has punched 30 hits, swiped seven bases, driven in 29 runs, and is a major reason why Cincinnati, at 18–9, sits in first place of the National League Central leading up to Sunday’s series-ending game with the Detroit Tigers.
In Saturday night’s game with the Tigers, a 9–2 win (the Reds have scored nine runs in consecutive games with Detroit on this homestand), Stewart’s heroics stole the show at Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark. He went three-for-four; including a home run and five RBIs. The 35,315 fans on hand couldn’t have been happier with their club’s high-power offense.
On Saturday, speaking with Substack.com, Stewart spoke confidently about the direction he and his teammates are traveling this season.
“I’m right where I want to be,” Stewart said. “No matter what. I’m confident in my abilities the same way the pitcher is confident in his abilities.”
“When you step into that box, it’s a battle against the pitcher,” Stewart said. “These guys are really, really good. I don’t like to give pitchers too much credit because they’re damn good and don’t need it. But they’re very good. When I’m in there, I’m competing the same way the pitcher is competing. I love what I do.”
When inspecting the National League standings on Sunday morning, the first-place Reds have a one-game lead on the Chicago Cubs, while the Milwaukee Brewers who most baseball insiders picked to again win the division this season, are a disappointing 13–13, good for fifth place in the Central Division.
Then there’s Tigers’ shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle. At 21, McGonigle is hitting .333, including 34 hits, 21 runs scored, and 12 RBIs. McGonigle received an eight-year, $150 million contract extension earlier this month.
Stewart is currently signed to a one-year contract with the Reds.
Missing the home run power offered by Suarez, even at this early stage of his career, Stewart understands what is expected of him to keep the Reds competitive. On Saturday at MLB.com, Stewart expressed his one-for-all and all-for-one attitude in Cincinnati.
“Everyone knows how much I think of Geno. It’s going to suck not to have him hitting in our lineup,” said Stewart. “He’s such a great player and he’s done it for so long. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to pick him up and that’s what this team is about. While he gets ready and heals up, we’ll find ways to go out there and help the team win. And we can’t wait to have him back.”
As a first-round draft selection in 2022, Stewart is competing at the level expected of him. So far this season, as Stewart goes, so does the rest of Francona’s lineup. The next 135 games should give Reds’ fans much to cheer for, especially when Stewart steps up to the plate.