Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart will win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Stewart has helped bring the energy and excitement back to Cincinnati after many seasons of inconsistent team performances. He has the ability and the vibes to keep the good times rolling for the Reds for the rest of this season and beyond.
What Has Sal Stewart Accomplished So Far?
Stewart was ranked third on the Reds’ top prospect list in 2025, only behind right-handed flamethrowers Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder. He was named to the Double-A and Triple-A All-Star teams last year in the minor leagues, batting .309 across both leagues and swatting 20 home runs. Stewart was also featured in the 2025 Futures Game during the MLB All-Star break in Atlanta.
Stewart made his MLB debut and recorded his first big league hit on September 1, 2025, against the Toronto Blue Jays. In two wild-card games versus the eventual World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, he displayed a sample of his offensive potential, recording two hits and four runs batted in.
Before the 2026 season began, Stewart was named the twenty-third best prospect by Baseball America, and he has lived up to that ranking in more ways than one. Through 19 games, he is batting a crisp .303 and slugging an outstanding .682, which is fourth in the National League. He currently has a 1.1 wins above replacement (WAR) rating, which is on pace for a 9.4 WAR in a full 162-game season. Slammin’ Sal is tied for second in all of baseball in home runs with seven, only trailing the three-time MVP Aaron Judge and the rebounding Jordan Walker.
The Konnor Griffin Problem
Stewart and the Reds are faced with a divisional problem up Interstate 70 in Pittsburgh. The Pirates also feature an impressive rookie in Konnor Griffin, who is ranked as the number one prospect in baseball and is only nineteen years old. He made his debut earlier this year and in 13 games, has made some highlight reel plays at the plate and defensively at shortstop.
Both players are front-runners for the National League Rookie of the Year, but Griffin has the possibility of being sent back down to the minor leagues. The same cannot be said for Stewart, as the Reds need him to sustain their success. Regardless, both will definitely be facing each other for years to come in the majors.
Outlook For Sal Stewart’s National League Rookie Of The Year Campaign
Stewart has brought a great deal of excitement to Cincinnati, as the infield duo of himself and fellow fan favorite Elly De La Cruz is a double-play-inducing machine. Fans have been attending more games at Great American Ball Park consistently, which is a direct attribute of Stewart’s performances on the diamond. Through his spark in the clubhouse, the Reds are destined for success in seasons to follow. The Reds currently hold an 11-8 record and are tied for first in the National League Central with the pesky Pirates. Cincinnati is searching for back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since the 2012-13 seasons.
Obviously, the MLB season is far from over, but Stewart has proved that this is not just a phase. By the 2026 season’s end, he will become the second Cincinnati Reds’ infielder this decade to win National League Rookie of the Year, as Jonathan India won the award in 2021. Slammin’ Sal could also collect a few other awards this season, as the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove are also in his sights. He may potentially thrust himself into National League MVP finalist talks, should his pace stay steady, along with the Reds remaining in the win column.
