Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had high praise for the Cincinnati Reds standout during the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday.
After what appeared to be a highly promising start to the 2026 MLB season, the Cincinnati Reds have struggled to keep up with their NL Central foes, finishing the first half 43-52 overall and fifth in the division. Additionally, they are now 15.5 games back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and six behind the fourth-place Pittsburgh Pirates.
However, Sal Stewart has provided a beacon of light for the young squad, batting .256 and leading the Reds with 93 hits, 65 RBI and 19 home runs. He has also recorded a .338 on-base percentage while drawing 45 walks, a massive step forward from only three last season.
Stewart's dominance at the plate eventually landed him a call from manager Dave Roberts to join his NL All-Star roster before the 96th summer inter-league classic.
While the pair would normally be seen in opposing dugouts at other points of the season, Roberts tipped his cap to the 22-year-old first baseman when they joined forces on Tuesday.
"He came into my office … and he said, 'Hey, I'd love to take five, 10, 15 minutes and tell me anything, give me something,'" Roberts said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "And we talked for like 20 minutes about what it means to be a competitor, about winning pitches, and about getting people around you that (help you) to play the game the right way and what standard you set. So, we went deep. But it was just impressive. A first-year All-Star coming to the manager's office and said, 'Give me anything, some nuggets.'"
Stewart's on-base track record continued during his lone at-bat in the seventh inning of the matchup. While Matt Olson flied out and Otto Lopez struck out swinging, Stewart had the most competitive showing against AL right-hander Drew Rasmussen, walking on six pitches.
Unfortunately, his efforts were not enough for the NL to mount a comeback from a 3-0 deficit when the San Francisco Giants' Luis Arráez chased a 96-mph four-seam fastball way outside of the zone to end the inning.
Luckily, there have been key stretches where Stewart's talents did not go to waste.
Cincinnati's 9-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on May 20 comes to mind. Stewart went 4-for-5 at the plate, knocking in two RBI and scoring three runs.
Now, Stewart and the Reds will have their sights set on a crucial bounce back series against the 39-59 Colorado Rockies, who rank fifth in the NL West and hold the second-worst record in MLB after the 38-59 Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals.
The first pitch of Friday's opener at Coors Field is set for 8:40 p.m. EDT.
