Sal Stewart was named the August NL Rookie of the Month, the second month that he's earned the award this season.
The Cincinnati Reds have another reason to keep celebrating following their series win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday and that is Sal Stewart earning his second NL Rookie of the Month award since April.
Stewart wrapped up August cementing himself as only the third rookie in MLB history after Hall of Famer Ted Williams and José Canseco to be the league's first player to reach 100 RBI during a season.
Going into September, the 22-year-old first baseman has led Cincinnati's lineup with 105 RBI while batting .266 and launching 31 home runs. Stewart has also recorded an .821 OPS and a team-best 143 hits.
Stewart was key in the Reds evening the San Diego series on Tuesday with a 4-3 win as he went 2-for-4 at the plate, scoring a run during the eighth off a sacrifice fly by Juan Brito after hitting a single that eventually resulted in the bases being loaded when Jose Trevino and Matt McLain got on as well.
Additionally, Stewart came through during Cincinnati's 10-8 victory over the NL Central foe Chicago Cubs last Friday, crushing a solo homer in the fifth and plating two runs on the night.
Furthermore, his impressive trajectory this season landed him his first All-Star Game appearance in July. Even though Stewart didn't record a hit or score any runs, he put up the most competitive at-bat in the seventh against AL right-hander Drew Rasmussen, drawing a six-pitch walk.
Besides the past couple months, Stewart delivered in other high-leverage moments like the Reds' April 25 matchup against the Detroit Tigers, going 3-for-4 at the dish as he knocked in five RBI to propel Cincinnati to a dominant 9-2 win in front of the Great American Ball Park faithful.
Among the runners Stewart drove in were Matt McLain and star Elly De La Cruz during the first when he took Detroit starter Jack Flaherty deep for a three-run blast to left field.
With the Reds going 67-73 overall and sitting 20 games behind the division rival Milwaukee Brewers, Stewart's bat will be crucial in Cincinnati keeping their postseason hopes alive given they are also 6.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot which is currently held by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Stewart will be primed for another opportunity to contribute during the Reds' upcoming three-game series against Milwaukee starting on Friday evening at 6:10 p.m. EDT when right-hander Rhett Lowder takes the mound.
