Stewart flashed serious power in his brief 2025 debut, and 2026 could be the year he puts it all together.
The Cincinnati Reds finished their 2025 campaign with an 83-79 record, good enough for third place in the NL Central and a trip to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
While the Reds were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card round, the September call-up of top prospect Sal Stewart gave fans a glimpse of what could be a bright future in Cincinnati.
Stewart, who turned 22 on December 7, made his MLB debut on September 1 and wasted no time showing why he was ranked as the Reds' No. 1 prospect and No. 31 overall by MLB Pipeline heading into the offseason.
Stewart's Power Was on Full Display
In just 18 regular season games, Stewart slashed .255/.293/.545 with five home runs and eight RBIs in 55 at-bats, and those five homers led the entire Reds roster for the month of September.
He also appeared in both playoff games against the Dodgers, going 2-for-4 with a walk and four RBIs while becoming the youngest Red to record a hit in the postseason.
Before reaching the big leagues, Stewart tore through two levels of the minor leagues in 2025.
He won the Southern League MVP Award at Double-A Chattanooga, hitting .306/.377/.473 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 80 games.
After being promoted to Triple-A Louisville in July, he was even better, posting a .315/.394/.629 slash line with 10 more homers and 36 RBIs in just 38 games.
He was also named to the 2025 All-Star Futures Game alongside fellow Reds prospect Alfredo Duno.
Where Will Stewart Play in 2026?
The biggest question facing the Reds this offseason is where Stewart will line up on a daily basis.
He came up through the minors as a third baseman, but the Reds acquired two-time Gold Glove winner Ke'Bryan Hayes from the Pirates at the trade deadline, which blocks that path.
"It's going to be interesting because we love, love the hitter," Reds manager Terry Francona said at the Winter Meetings. "I remember all the way back last year in Spring Training — I think I told you guys I thought he was one of the most advanced young hitters I'd seen, and I believe that."
Stewart played 11 games at first base and six at third during his September stint, and the Reds seem willing to find him at-bats wherever they can.
With Spencer Steer able to move around the diamond and first base, left field, and designated hitter all somewhat unsettled, Stewart should have a clear path to everyday playing time in 2026.
Why a Breakout Is Coming
Stewart still has his rookie eligibility heading into 2026, which makes him an early frontrunner for the National League Rookie of the Year award.
His advanced approach at the plate, combined with the raw power he showed in September, suggests that a full season could result in something special.
The Reds have struggled to find consistent power production for much of the past few seasons, and Stewart's bat could be the answer.
If he can build on what he did in his small sample size last year, Cincinnati could have one of the best young hitters in baseball for years to come.