Stewart reveals a stunning 26-pound weight loss.
Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart has made headlines this offseason, but not for his bat or his glove, instead, he's making news for what he's done away from the diamond.
The 22-year-old prospect revealed during an appearance on the Reds Hot Stove show that he's lost 26 pounds since the end of the 2025 season, and he credits a conversation with manager Terry Francona for sparking the transformation.
The Call That Changed Everything
"I called Tito," Stewart said during the show, referring to Francona by his popular nickname. "We had a super long talk together about what he expects out of me. He expects a lot of good things out me...I had to look myself in the mirror and see where I could get better and I felt like losing some weight could not only help me, but allow me to go play first and even second. I actually weighed in today, and I am down 26 pounds from when I left the offseason."
The weight loss is significant for Stewart, who played at 224 pounds during the 2025 season and now appears ready to enter spring training in much better shape.
The decision to slim down comes as the Reds try to figure out where Stewart fits on the diamond, especially after the team acquired two-time Gold Glove winner Ke'Bryan Hayes at the trade deadline last season.
Stewart's 2025 Season
Stewart put together an impressive campaign in 2025 across three different levels.
He started the year in Double-A Chattanooga, where he hit .306/.377/.473 with 10 home runs in 80 games and won the Southern League MVP Award.
After a promotion to Triple-A Louisville in July, he slashed .315/.394/.629 with 10 more home runs in just 38 games.
The Reds called him up on September 1, and he made an impact right away. In 18 regular season games, he slashed .255/.293/.545 with five home runs and eight RBIs.
He also appeared in both Wild Card games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs while becoming the youngest Red to record a postseason hit.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Cincinnati Reds finished the 2025 season with an 83-79 record, good for third place in the NL Central and their first postseason appearance since 2020.
With Francona entering his second season and Stewart as one of baseball's top prospects, expectations are high.
Stewart's versatility could be key to his success in 2026, and his offseason work shows he's willing to do whatever it takes.
If he can build on his impressive 2025 performance while maintaining his improved conditioning, Stewart could be poised for a breakout season and potentially compete for Rookie of the Year honors.