Reds fans get crucial update from Sal Stewart after frightening Opening Day scene

Reds Country was holding its collective breath on Thursday afternoon. The Cincinnati Reds' Opening Day game against the Boston Red Sox came to a screeching halt during the top of the fifth inning after first baseman Sal Stewart deflected a ball off the bat off Roman Anthony that came screaming toward the infielder at 110.2 mph.

The ball struck Stewart in his left wrist and he immediately fell to his knees in pain. The ball trickled away, Anthony reached base safely, and the crowd at Great American Ball Park went deathly silent. The Reds' prized rookie was hurting and the replay angles had fans fearing the worst.

The ball struck Stewart just below the heel of the mitt, and after a quick visit by Reds' head athletic trainer Sean Mcqueeney revealed no obvious structural damage, the rookie made the decision to stay in the game.

Reds dodge a bullet after Sal Stewart avoids major injury

"It feels good," Stewart told reporters after the game. "Obviously there's some swelling in there, but that happens and it's part of the game. The things that Jesus can do are for real. I wouldn't be here without Him, and He protected me today. He's the Kings of kings, He's the Lord of lords, and Christ is the reason that it didn't break, so I'm thankful for that."

Stewart is obviously crucial to the Reds' success in 2026 and losing him during the first game of the season would've been a crushing blow. Thankfully, it appears everything checked out and he'll be back in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the Reds' opening series against the Red Sox.

There's a chance, however, given the Reds' depth at first base, that manager Terry Francona might give Stewart a day or two away from the field. Tito can flip Spencer Steer, Nathaniel Lowe, or Eugenio Suárez to act as the team's first baseman over the weekend and move Stewart into the DH role.

Stewart was having a good day before the injury scare, and added a double to his stat line after the incident. He was easily Cincinnati's best offensive performer on Thursday afternoon, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a single. Reds fans will be hoping for more of the same from Stewart moving forward.