Cincinnati Reds Share Sal Stewart History After Yankees Game

Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart has been one of the lone bright spots this year for the organization. The 22-year-old first baseman has been one of the best hitters in the lineup, posting a .252 batting average, .346 on-base percentage, .803 OPS, 14 home runs and 53 RBIs across 75 games this year.

He has been a major reason the Reds have been able to hover around .500 this year at 36-39. Without him, they would likely be a lot worse off.

He also has the ability to change games single-handedly, and he did exactly that with an offensive explosion Saturday against the New York Yankees.

In a 10-2 win, Stewart drove in six RBIs, pushing his season total to 53 and setting a couple of franchise records in the process. The Reds shared how he solidified his place in history after the game.

"How about some Sal Stewart fun facts? 🔴 First Reds rookie with multiple 6-RBI games 🔴 Fastest Reds rookie by team games (75) to reach 50+ RBI," the Reds wrote on X.

This is exactly what the Reds have come to expect from Stewart, who plays like an MLB veteran despite this being his first full big-league season. Stewart debuted in early September last year and even played in the postseason for the Reds, but he still holds rookie eligibility this season.

As a result, he is a candidate to win National League Rookie of the Year. There is some tough competition for the award, but he is definitely a frontrunner at this point in the year. It is also possible he earns a selection to the NL All-Star Game, potentially backing up Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers at third base.

Stewart was selected by Cincinnati in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of high school. He was selected 32nd overall. Prior to his call-up, he had developed into a consensus top-100 prospect.

Regardless of the individual accolades, Stewart's main goal remains helping the Reds stack more wins so the team can make back-to-back postseason trips. They are currently not in position to do so, sitting last place in the NL Central. Still, there is plenty of time for the team to gain ground.

With his bat continuing to produce at this level, Cincinnati's chances of getting back to October look a whole lot better than they would without him.