Sal Stewart just absolutely torched the National League and snatched the 2026 Rookie of the Year Award, thanks to a season that saw him blast 32 home runs and rack up a ridiculous 112 RBI. That RBI total? Only the third-most in all of MLB, period. Talk about making a statement right out of the gate.
Stewart’s Unbelievable Rookie Campaign
This kid played in *every single game* for the Cincinnati Reds, which is wild for a rookie. He didn’t just show up, either. Stewart put together a killer slash line of .263/.330/.457, proving he’s not just a power bat. He stepped into that Reds lineup and just became the guy, cementing his spot at first base. It’s wild to think he only debuted on September 1, 2025, playing 18 games, but that kept his rookie status intact for this monstrous 2026 season. The Reds have been trying to fill that first base hole since Joey Votto’s last season in 2023, even starting Christian Encarnacion-Strand there in 2024 and 2025. But this year, Stewart took over, and Encarnacion-Strand ended up in the minors and eventually traded to the Baltimore Orioles. Stewart also isn’t alone in rookie hardware this year, with Kevin McGonigle grabbing the AL Rookie honor for the Detroit Tigers.
WAR Isn’t Everything, Apparently
Now, while Stewart’s bat was undeniably loud, the competition for this award was no joke. St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt and New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge were the other finalists, and their numbers were seriously impressive too. Wetherholt played in 139 games, and get this, he actually had the edge in WAR over Stewart, logging a massive 4.5 WAR. That was the best mark on the Cardinals and the 15th-best among all MLB hitters. Stewart, on the other hand, posted a 1.4 WAR. And Benge? The Mets outfielder racked up 168 hits, which was the seventh-most in MLB, and his .282 average ranked 15th among qualified hitters. He also put up a strong 4.3 WAR, tying for 18th-best in the majors with San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis. But despite Wetherholt having the WAR advantage, Stewart apparently led him in *most statistical categories*. Sometimes the traditional stats just hit different, especially when you’re knocking in 112 runs.
This award isn’t just a pat on the back for Sal Stewart, it’s a huge stamp on his career, placing him in some truly legendary company. He’s now the ninth player in Cincinnati history to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, joining names like Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Pat Zachry, Chris Sabo, Scott Williamson, and Jonathan India. That’s an incredible list to be a part of. The future is looking incredibly bright for Stewart, and if this season is any indication, baseball fans are in for a treat watching this kid for years to come.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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