Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is among the best prospects in baseball. He features an extremely bright future and could end up being the next star in Cincinnati. During a recent interview with MLB Network, Stewart revealed what manager Terry Francona told him following the 2025 MLB season.

"So when the season kind of ended, obviously it was an abrupt ending in LA," Stewart said. "After there was some time, I got on the phone with Tito, we spoke for about 45 minutes together. And he's just like, 'Look, this is what I expect out of you'... He kind of wanted me to lean out more."

Stewart then said he has accomplished that goal, as he said he has lost 25 pounds. The top prospect also revealed that Francona wants him to prepare to play first and third base. Stewart said he is willing to play wherever the Reds need him. 

The fact that Stewart has already accomplished Francona's challenge is impressive. Of course, spring training is right around the corner, but losing 25 pounds within a few months is no simple task. 

For Stewart, the bat will play at the big league level. In fact, he crushed five home runs in his 18 games played in MLB last season. Stewart only hit .255 during that span, but his .839 OPS certainly caught the attention of fans.

The only real question is where Stewart will play from a defensive standpoint.

Francona told Stewart to be ready for either corner infield spot, but the hot corner is currently occupied by Gold Glove third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. First base could be an option, although Spencer Steer is a candidate to play there as well.

Stewart is clearly ready for the big league level. The Reds could always have him begin the season in Triple-A, but that seems unlikely unless he has an abysmal performance in spring training. If first and third base are not available for him to take over, though, perhaps Stewart can handle designated hitter duties. 

Having a young player occupy the DH role is not ideal, as managers often prefer to have veterans in that role. For Francona and the Reds, however, the goal will be to get Stewart's bat in the lineup by any means necessary if he does indeed break camp with the MLB squad.

It should be noted that Stewart is ranked as the No. 1 third base prospect in the sport for 2026, per MLB.com. The ranking primarily stems from his offensive prowess as opposed to his defensive abilities, however.

It will be interesting to see what Stewart's role is in 2026. As long as he is on the Reds in MLB, Sal Stewart will be a popular National League Rookie of the Year candidate.