Sal Stewart put together the kind of rookie season that usually ends with hardware.
Now the Reds first baseman is one of the three finalists for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, which the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will hand out next week. After the year Stewart just had, the race looks like his to lose.
The 22-year-old played in all 162 games and made 161 starts, giving Cincinnati a rare everyday force in his first full season in the majors. He hit .263 with a .787 OPS, launched 32 home runs and drove in 112 runs. Stewart also showed his versatility by starting games at first base, third base, second base and designated hitter.
His power production put him in select company. Stewart became the second Reds player to post a 30-homer rookie season, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who hit 38 in 1956. He also set the franchise rookie RBI record and became the only Cincinnati rookie ever to finish with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs.
That kind of season is almost automatic award territory. Only 14 major league rookies have ever hit those marks, and every rookie to do it since the award was introduced in 1947 has won it: Walt Dropo in 1950, Ron Kittle in 1983, Jose Canseco in 1986, Mark McGwire in 1987, Mike Piazza in 1993, Albert Pujols in 2001, José Abreu in 2014, Aaron Judge in 2017 and Pete Alonso in 2019.
Stewart also earned an All-Star nod in 2026 and led all NL rookies in home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases. His 57 extra-base hits and 285 total bases topped the rookie field, while his 164 hits were the most by a Reds rookie since Pete Rose’s 170 in 1963 and tied for second in the National League. He also finished second in the league in runs with 87 and third in walks with 63.
The Reds have had one Rookie of the Year winner recently, with Jonathan India taking the honor in 2021. The rest of the franchise’s winners are Robinson in 1956, Rose in 1963, Tommy Helms in 1966, Johnny Bench in 1968, Pat Zachry in 1976, Chris Sabo in 1988 and Scott Williamson in 1999.
Stewart’s competition includes Wetherholt, who entered the year as an early favorite but saw his case fade because of injuries and a second-half slump. In 139 games, Wetherholt hit .242 with a .704 OPS, 17 home runs and 51 RBIs.
His defense at second base, though, could still matter in the voting. The 24-year-old was an elite defender and ranked in the 100th percentile in outs above average and Statcast’s fielding run value.
Baseball Reference credited him with a 4.5 WAR, compared with Stewart’s 1.8.
Benge is also in the mix, and his case leans heavily on overall value. The 23-year-old posted a 4.3 WAR in his first season with the Mets, playing mostly right field across 156 games. He hit .282 with a .776 OPS, 20 homers and 65 RBIs.
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