Sal Stewart's rookie season has been incredible.
The Cincinnati Reds picked up one of their most impressive wins of the season on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants, and it came on the back of another dominant performance from their breakout young star. Rookie third baseman Sal Stewart powered the Reds to an 8-3 victory, continuing what has quickly become one of the best early-season storylines in baseball.
Stewart went 2-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs, becoming the driving force behind Cincinnati’s offense yet again. And in the process, he made franchise history according to Cincinnati's X account.
“First rookie in franchise history to have two 3-run homers in a game? Sal Stewart,” the Reds wrote on X. It was the latest milestone in what has already been a remarkable first full season.
None of this is surprising given what Stewart has done so far. Through 18 games this year, he owns a .323 batting average, .434 on-base percentage, 1.160 OPS, seven home runs and 17 RBIs.
He has been the Reds’ best player in the batter's box, which is saying something considering he shares a lineup with superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz. Stewart has not only emerged as the early frontrunner for National League Rookie of the Year but has also inserted himself into the early NL MVP conversation.
Stewart was the Reds’ first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and debuted last season, but he retained rookie eligibility entering 2026. Cincinnati believed he could become a foundational piece, but even they could not have expected this level of production this quickly.
He is outperforming most players in the league and he has not yet played more than 50 total career games. His combination of plate discipline, power and contact-ability has transformed the Reds’ lineup.
For a team that has struggled to find consistent offense around him, Stewart’s emergence has been essential. The Reds are looking to make the MLB postseason for the second straight year, and if they are going to get there, they will need Stewart to continue playing at this level. He has already shown he can carry the offense for stretches, and Wednesday’s performance was another example of how valuable he has become.
If Stewart keeps producing like this, the Reds will remain firmly in the playoff picture. He may end up collecting far more than just one piece of franchise history by the end of the season too.