Did you hear that the Baseball Writers Association of America announced Monday that Reds first baseman Sal Stewart clinched the NL Rookie of the Year, handing Cincinnati a post‑first‑round 2027 draft pick via the Prospect Promotion Incentive?
Stewart nabbed 20 of 30 first‑place votes and was the sole NL candidate to appear in the top five on every ballot. He edged out Mets outfielder Carson Benge and Cardinals middle infielder JJ Wetherholt. Benge earned seven first‑place votes and missed only two ballots, landing second. Wetherholt, third overall, collected the remaining three first‑place votes.
Also receiving votes were Nolan McLean, TJ Rumfield and Logan Henderson, who finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. The only other names on any ballot were Bryce Eldridge, Didier Fuentes and A.J. Ewing, each appearing no higher than fifth.
Stewart debuted last September but stayed rookie‑eligible for 2026, opening the season as Cincinnati’s first baseman. He logged 110 games at first, 33 at third, 11 as DH and seven at second. Leading NL rookies with 700 plate appearances, he posted a .263/.330/.457 line, belted 32 homers—12 more than any other rookie—and drove in 112 runs, nearly 40 ahead of the next newcomer. Only Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson kept him from topping the entire NL in RBI, while Stewart ranked eighth in league home runs.
The sheer volume of Stewart’s stats would have made him a lock in past eras, yet today’s park‑adjusted metrics and his modest defense muted his WAR, which FanGraphs and Baseball Reference pegged at just two wins above replacement—about half what Benge and Wetherholt posted. For my money, voters wisely rewarded the raw power he supplied in the heart of Terry Francona’s lineup, keeping him atop their choices.
Wetherholt and Benge were Gold Glove finalists at second base and right field. Wetherholt appeared to be Stewart’s main rival for most of the year, but a two‑week stint on the disabled list with right‑wrist tendinitis saw his bat sputter in the second half. Benge, who emerged as one of the NL’s top hitters after the All‑Star break, ended up as Stewart’s toughest challenger, posting a 20‑20 season with a .282/.346/.430 slash line.
All three finalists qualified for the Prospect Promotion Incentive and began the season on their clubs’ MLB rosters, guaranteeing the winner a PPI pick. Stewart’s triumph locks that selection for Cincinnati—one of three to be awarded next year. Kevin McGonigle secured Detroit’s pick by winning the AL Rookie of the Year, and Parker Messick earned Cleveland’s by finishing in the AL Cy Young top three.
Stewart becomes the Reds’ second Rookie of the Year this decade and the ninth in franchise history, joining legends like Frank Robinson (1956), Pete Rose (1963), Tommy Helms (1966), Johnny Bench (1968), Pat Zachry (1976), Chris Sabo (1988), Scott Williamson (1999) and Jonathan India (2021). With his surge, can Cincinnati contend for a playoff spot as soon as 2027?