Sal Stewart’s case for the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year just got a little cleaner.
The Cincinnati Reds rookie was not named among the finalists for the Rawling’s Gold Glove award at first base, and that matters because a big chunk of the pushback against his Rookie of the Year candidacy has centered on his defense. Stewart wasn’t a liability at the position, but his -2 DRS and -2 OAA were nowhere near the numbers posted by Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, who won the award with 11 DRS and 11 OAA.
That debate has followed Stewart all season, with opposing fanbases pointing to his glove as the reason he shouldn’t be the league’s top rookie. But the latest round of award results didn’t exactly strengthen that argument.
St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt and New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge were also Gold Glove finalists, yet neither came away with hardware. Wetherholt lost out to Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang in what turned into something of a surprise, while Benge finished behind Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll.
Carroll’s win was easier to see coming. He put together the kind of defensive season that usually ends with a trophy, leading all right fielders with 10 OAA and finishing at 12 DRS.
Wetherholt’s loss, though, landed as the real shock. Cardinals fans had plenty to say about it, especially after the numbers circulated online:
JJ Wetherholt vs Brice Turang this year:
OAA:
Wetherholt - 25
Turang - 14
FRV:
Wetherholt - 23
Turang - 14
Errors:
Wetherholt - 2
Turang - 5
Def:
Wetherholt - 19.8
Turang - 11.7
This one is a stunner. Wetherholt leads the entire NL at 2B in most defensive categories. https://t.co/dGVURj85Ga
- Cardinals Stats And Facts (@STL_Stats_Facts) November 2, 2026
Still, the broader Rookie of the Year conversation may not swing the way some have argued all summer. The source of the debate has been familiar: Cardinals fans spent months insisting Wetherholt should beat Stewart for the award, often leaning on defense and WAR - which is tied to the position he plays - as the main case for the St. Louis rookie.
But postseason awards have a habit of rewarding the louder bat. Stewart’s September slump didn’t erase the season he put together: a .265/.335/.476 line with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and a 112 wRC+.
Wetherholt, for his part, also faded in the second half and finished at .242/.339/.365 with 17 homers, 51 RBI, 14 steals, and a 101 wRC+.
Benge still has a case and may have passed Wetherholt as the likely runner-up, but the expectation in Cincinnati is unchanged. When the NL Rookie of the Year is announced next week, Reds fans believe Stewart will hear his name.
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