Reds prospect Sal Stewart was "stunned" to find out Terry Francona once managed Michael Jordan.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona once managed Michael Jordan. For those who were unaware of that fact, you are not alone. Reds star prospect Sal Stewart recently admitted that he was "stunned" to discover that his manager once coached arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time in baseball.
"He said that he managed Michael Jordan. I was stunned, I didn't even know that was a thing," Stewart said, via MLB Network. "I didn't know that he did that."
Stewart, 22, was not even born when Francona managed Jordan in the minor leagues, so his lack of knowledge about the situation is understandable.
The Chicago Bulls legend retired from the NBA in 1993 and decided to pursue a baseball career. He signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox ahead of the 2024 campaign. Jordan's baseball career only lasted a short while, as he returned to the NBA during the 1994-95 season.
Meanwhile, Francona was the manager of the White Sox's Double-A squad in Birmingham from 1993-1995. The Barons, which was the team's name, had Jordan on the roster during the '94 campaign.
Francona has since gone on to become a future Hall of Fame manager. He helped the Boston Red Sox snap their World Series drought in 2004, and almost helped the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) accomplish the same feat. Cleveland fell just short in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, losing to the Chicago Cubs.
Nevertheless, Francona was one of the best managers in both Red Sox and Guardians history. Now, Francona is hoping to help the Reds win their first championship since 1990.
Sal Stewart will only help Francona achieve the goal. Stewart is one of the best young prospects in the sport. A corner infielder who could end up at first or third base -- or possibly designated hitter -- Stewart's hitting ability is the most exciting facet of his game.
Stewart made his MLB debut in 2025. However, he did not play in enough games to qualify as a rookie. The 22-year-old is on track to have his official rookie season in 2026 with Cincinnati, and he will certainly be a Rookie of the Year candidate assuming he is indeed in the big leagues this year.
Having Terry Francona as his manager is something that could prove to be pivotal in his development, as Francona understands what it requires to get the most out of players.