ESPN sees star potential in Sal Stewart but the Reds face a tricky challenge

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel basically handed the Cincinnati Reds a compliment with a catch: Sal Stewart looks like “All-Star-level” talent… if he can improve his third-base defense in 2026. 

That’s the kind of line Reds fans should want to read. It confirms what the organization has been betting on since he started climbing lists: Stewart’s bat is real, and the upside isn’t just “solid regular.” McDaniel even has him as Cincinnati’s top prospect (and No. 17 overall on his Top 100), which tells you this isn’t a casual compliment. 

But the “if” matters. It’s tricky because the Reds already made a loud commitment at third base when they traded for Ke’Bryan Hayes — a guy whose glove is basically the whole point of the acquisition.

Red prospect Sal Stewart might run into a frustrating reality at third base

So Stewart’s challenge isn’t simply “can he get better at third?” It’s about him getting better at third in a way that actually changes Cincinnati’s plans. The Reds aren’t moving Hayes off third unless they’re absolutely forced to — especially not when his defense is the separator that justifies the whole deal. 

This is where the Reds have to be honest about what they’re really trying to accomplish. Developing Stewart into the best version of himself and getting his bat into the lineup without waiting for the stars to align. McDaniel even notes Stewart is “trending toward first base,” with third still possible if his lateral mobility takes a jump. 

And Stewart is close enough that this isn’t a theoretical debate. He made his MLB debut on September 1, 2025 and the Reds were already talking about him like someone who belongs.  He popped five homers in 18 September games during that debut stint — an appearance that makes a front office start planning lineups instead of timelines. 

It’s a tricky challenge, but it’s also the kind of problem good organizations want. The Reds don’t have to pick one lane today. Let Stewart keep getting real reps at third so the “All-Star if…” path stays alive. But don’t let that become a bottleneck that delays the obvious: if Stewart hits like this is headed where ESPN thinks, Cincinnati’s job is to get the bat in the lineup, even if the defensive label ends up being first base/DH more often than the prospect dream originally promised.

Because the best-case scenario for the Reds isn’t about Stewart becoming a third baseman. It’s about him becoming a star. And stars don’t get put on hold because the depth chart looks inconvenient.