Sal Stewart didn’t leave much room for doubt when asked which minor leaguer he’d most like to see join the Reds for the second half of the 2026 season. At All-Star Media Day on Monday, the Cincinnati rookie pointed straight to the organization’s top outfield prospect, Héctor Rodríguez.
“You guys will know the name Héctor Rodríguez really soon,” Stewart said. “He's a very, very good player and I think he's going to make an immediate impact.”
That kind of praise carries weight coming from someone who knows Rodríguez well. Stewart and Rodríguez spent plenty of time together in the minors, overlapping often from 2023 through last season before both landed with the Louisville Bats in mid-July. Stewart later earned a September call-up and was on the Reds’ 2026 Opening Day roster, while the team decided Rodríguez still needed more time in the minors.
Rodríguez has answered that assignment by tearing up Triple-A pitching. Through 89 games with Louisville this season, he’s batting .284/.364/.546 with 23 home runs, 60 RBI, six stolen bases, and a 131 wRC+.
So it’s no surprise some fans are wondering why he hasn’t already gotten the call. The Reds’ outfield picture hasn’t exactly forced the issue, either. Outside of JJ Bleday, the group has been underwhelming, though Cincinnati still has big hopes for Noelvi Marte in right field and Terry Francona has continued to lean on Blake Dunn and TJ Frield this season.
Even with that logjam, August could be the month that finally opens the door for Rodríguez. At this point, there doesn’t seem to be much left for him to prove.
In Other News...
Bengals Are Bringing Back A Gameday Tradition Fans Now Dread
The Bengals are rolling out their 2026 theme games, and the first one on the list is a familiar orange-heavy kickoff for the home opener on Sept. 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Open in Orange is back for a third straight season, giving fans another early chance to turn Paycor Stadium into a wall of team color as Cincinnati opens its home slate.
More theme-game announcements are expected to follow, including Stripe The Jungle and White Bengal, two of the clubs more recognizable game-day looks. For a fan base that has seen these traditions become part of the home schedule, the reveal is less about novelty than anticipation, with the opener again setting the tone for how the Bengals want the stadium to feel from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Orlando Brown Jr. Just Fueled Bengals Hype Around One Rookie
The Bengals used a second-round pick on Cashius Howell and have spent the offseason talking up the Texas A&M edge rushers work ethic and upside. In practices, he has already shown enough to draw attention from teammates, and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has been among the veterans publicly encouraged by what he has seen from the rookie.
Browns praise matters because Howell is not just learning one role. Cincinnati has been cross-training him as an occasional off-ball linebacker to help with a roster need, which adds another layer to a rookie already trying to carve out playing time on a crowded defense. For a team looking for immediate value from its draft class, Howells early progress has become one of the more interesting developments of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bengals QB Jake Browning Already Facing An Unexpected Threat
Jake Brownings move this offseason gave him a fresh start and a chance to compete for a backup quarterback job in Tampa Bay, where his experience should count for plenty early in the process. For a player who spent time developing behind the scenes in Cincinnati, landing in a new quarterback room was supposed to be an opportunity to settle in and show he could be a steady hand if called upon.
The early challenge, though, has come from an undrafted rookie who has turned heads during preseason work and made the depth chart look a little less settled than it seemed at first. Browning still has the edge that comes with having been around the league longer, but the final roster picture is not locked in, and how the rest of camp unfolds could determine whether that experience is enough. [Read more 🡒]