Reds: Sal Stewart, Elly De La Cruz and Chase Burns' Best Games of 2026

With the 2026 season in the books, let’s look back on the biggest single-game performances by some of the Cincinnati Reds' best players in what was ultimately an extremely disappointing season all-around. From multi-home-run games to 1-0 shutout wins, which games should Reds fans remember the most? 

Let’s start with Sal Stewart, the Reds rookie third baseman who had a rookie-of-the-year-caliber season and now has one of the best odds to win the award after a 112-RBI season. 

However, in April, he had one of the best performances of his career. He hit two home runs and drove in six runs in a win over the San Francisco Giants. Stewart took a down-and-away fastball over the right center field fence for a three-run bomb, giving the Reds an early first-inning advantage. It came in the at-bat before Eugenio Suarez hit one of his own for back-to-back home runs. 

After an Elly De La Cruz walk in the second inning that put runners on first and second, Stewart hit another home run to the opposite field for his second bomb and sixth RBI in just two innings. He finished with two hits and six RBI in his first multi-home-run game. 

Elly De La Cruz exploded in Tampa against the Rays. After a Dane Myers walk and a Matt McLain strikeout, De La Cruz stepped into the right-handed batter's box against lefty Steven Matz. He rocketed a home run out to right-center field, giving Cincinnati a 2-0 lead in the first. 

In the sixth inning, De La Cruz hit a ball in the infield, and an excellent slide by Dane Myers scored a run and gave De La Cruz another RBI. He then singled in the seventh inning for his fourth RBI. Facing a position player on the mound, De La Cruz hit a one-run home run in the ninth inning. 

The final performance came on the mound from ace starter Chase Burns. Later in the season, in the month of August, the Miami Marlins visited Cincinnati to face Burns. He dominated, throwing seven innings and allowing no runs, which was essential as Cincinnati managed just one run on offense, leading to a 1-0 win. He struck out eight and walked none, just the third time he had at least 8 Ks and no walks last season. 

All three players line up to play for the Reds next season, if there is baseball, and should have the chance to put up some historic performances for the second season in a row.