Sal Stewart’s breakout season just added another line to the résumé.
The Cincinnati Reds rookie was named National League Rookie of the Month for August, and that makes him the first player in franchise history to win the award more than once. He also took home the honor in March/April.
August looked a lot like the kind of month that keeps Stewart in the Rookie of the Year conversation. He hit .304 with eight home runs, 21 RBI and an .879 OPS, giving the Reds a middle-of-the-order jolt while the season winds into its final month.
At 22, Stewart has been one of the brightest surprises on a Reds team that has had its share of disappointment. He’s also part of the group the front office has to build around, alongside Chase Burns and Elly De La Cruz.
Stewart knows the award chatter is only going to get louder from here.
"Obviously, it'll mean a lot to win it because I'm a competitor," Stewart said. "But it doesn't define who I am."
His current FanDuel Sportsbook odds sit at -650 to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Wednesday also brought another encouraging sign on the pitching side for Cincinnati. Brandon Williamson, called up when rosters expanded in September, made his first start for the Reds since April 29.
The outing had a rocky start, but Williamson settled in and finished with three runs allowed over 5 1/3 innings. He gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out a season-high five batters.
Williamson said being back in the big leagues meant a lot, but he sees it as only part of the journey.
“It’s validating and I don’t feel like I’m done," Williamson said. "I don’t feel like getting back is enough to scratch the itch or feel that it’s over. I want to put together a full season.”
Before the game, Terry Francona said plainly that September matters for the left-hander. Afterward, the Reds manager liked what he saw.
“I thought his cutter was a good pitch. I thought his changeup was a good pitch," Francona said.
"The first inning, I know it was a two-run homer, but that ball wasn’t killed. Balls were carrying today like crazy."
Williamson is expected to piggyback Chase Burns for the rest of the season, with the Reds looking to manage Burns’ workload over the final stretch.
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The fit is easy to understand for a Reds club that can use another rangy outfielder and a little more pop in the running game. The only thing standing between Jorge and an actual debut with the big-league club is the paperwork of roster management, since Cincinnati would need to clear space on both the 40-man and 26-man rosters before the move can become official. [Read more 🡒]
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Reds Suddenly Have A September Audition Worth Watching Closely
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Britos week stood out even more when he launched his first major league home run and added a stolen base in the same series, the kind of all-around flash that can make a late-season look matter more than the calendar suggests. For a club thinking ahead as much as it is trying to finish strong, these are the auditions worth monitoring, especially with Brito potentially in the conversation for the offseason roster and Williamson trying to show he can still be part of the pitching picture. [Read more 🡒]