Sal Stewart Is All but Locked In to Win NL Rookie of the Year

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Sal Stewart has a banner year in 2026, earning him The Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year award. 

In his first full major league season after a September call-up in 2025 and a spot on the Reds' playoff roster, Stewart hit .263 with 112 runs batted in and 32 home runs, posting a .787 OPS. 

He had a massive August, hitting .304 with 21 runs batted in and eight home runs to take the lead in the NL Rookie of the Year race over St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt.

To be clear, this isn’t the official MLB Rookie of the Year award, which the Baseball Writers Association of America votes on. That award will be handed out on November 9th. However, the Sporting News Rookie of the Year recipient has won the official Rookie of the Year award 122 times since the publication began giving it out in 1946.  

So, what are Stewart’s chances of winning NL Rookie of the Year? 

According to DraftKings, Stewart currently has odds of -525 to win NL Rookie of the Year, with Carson Benge next at +450. Many thought Stewart's chances might have taken a hit because he didn't end the season on the highest note. Stewart hit .247 with seven runs batted in and one home run in September. Meanwhile, Benge ended the season on a tear, hitting .313 with four home runs and an .874 OPS in September. 

Nevertheless, Stewart is basically a shoo-in for the award, and The Sporting News honoring him on October 22 is a preview of what we should expect in early November, barring any unforeseen circumstances. 

Stewart could be the first Reds player to win Rookie of the Year since former Red and current Kansas City Royals infielder Jonathan India did so in 2021. 

Stewart is setting the table for a fantastic career as a Cincinnati Red, having emerged as one of the team's best pure hitters and projected to become one of the league's best offensive players. He has a great approach that fits any situation. Whether the bases are empty or runners are in scoring position, he swings to give himself the best chance to drive in runs for the team and for himself, as shown by his bonkers RBI numbers in 2026. The last time a rookie had more RBI than Sal Stewart was Pete Alonso in 2019.