Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart picked up another piece of recognition on Wednesday when The Sporting News named him its 2026 National League Rookie of the Year. That’s not the award that ultimately shapes the official ledger the way the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote does, but it still lands as a notable nod for a player who put together a loud rookie season.
That said, the Sporting News and BBWAA don’t always see the award race the same way. Last season, Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton got the Sporting News honor, while Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin took the official NL Rookie of the Year prize from the writers.
The split happened again in 2024. The Sporting News selected Athletics closer Mason Miller in the American League and San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill in the National League, while the BBWAA went with New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. A year earlier, The Sporting News chose Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider, and the writers instead went with his teammate Michael Harris II.
For Reds fans, though, Stewart’s case feels pretty straightforward. He hit 32 home runs and drove in 112 runs, leading all rookies in both categories. He also finished at .263/.330/.457 with a 112 wRC+ while handling multiple positions.
The problem is that awards voting doesn’t always reward the loudest offensive line. Modern voters have been known to pick apart a résumé based on things like position value and WAR, and that opens the door for other names to creep into the conversation.
Stewart’s September finish won’t help his cause, either. After winning Rookie of the Month in August, he cooled off badly in the final month, batting .247/.287/.280 with one home run and a 56 wRC+ over his last 24 games.
Even with that dip, his season still looks strong enough to make him the favorite when the BBWAA vote comes next month. But this race may be tighter than Reds fans want to believe.
There are other challengers in the mix, too. St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt could get serious attention, and the New York Mets have two legitimate candidates in outfielder Carson Benge and pitcher Nolan McLean, both of whom turned in outstanding seasons.
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