Reds may have just confirmed a major September call-up with latest move

It's still the middle of the July, and there's a lot of baseball left to be played. The Cincinnati Reds, however, may already be looking ahead to September. Sal Stewart, one of the Reds top prospects, is on his way to Triple-A Louisville and is now one step away from making his MLB debut.

Stewart was one of two Reds representatives for the MLB Futures Game on Saturday afternoon at Truist Park. He entered the game during the fifth inning and just missed hitting a home run in the lone at-bat during the prospect showcase.

Stewart will now head to the Derby City after the All-Star festivities, and if his time in Louisville is anything like what we've seen from his stay in Chattanooga, the Reds could be looking to add the 21-year-old to the active roster for the final month of the 2025 season.

Reds may have just confirmed a major September call-up after promoting Sal Stewwart to Triple-A

During the month of September, MLB rules allow teams to select an additional two players to be part of the active roster. The expanded rosters enable organizations to get an extended look at some of their top prospects while still preserving their rookie status for the following season. Stewart is one of the most logical September call-ups, and this latest move to Triple-A makes the likelihood all the more plausible.

This season at Double-A Chattanooga, Stewart is hitting .306/.377/.473 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI, and a 145 wRC+. Stewart rarely strikes out (15.5% K-rate) and has surprising speed for his size, as evidenced by his 13 stolen bases.

It will be interesting to see where the Reds choose to deploy Stewart defensively when he arrives in Triple-A. Throughout most of the season, he's set up shop at the hot corner. Stewart has 67 starts at third base, but has also seen time at second base as well. With Christian Encarnacion-Strand now in Triple-A, Stewart will likely remain at third base.

The Reds offense has struggled to this point in the season. If Cincinnati fails to make any real additions at the upcoming MLB trade deadline, perhaps calling up Stewart in a couple of months will help to inject some more life into the Reds inconsistent lineup.

If Stewart is able to handle the next level of Minor League competition, it's only a matter of time before his make it to the big leagues. This past week, Stewart told Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith, “I’m here to make the big leagues this year. I’m confident in what I can do. I know I can help the team win.” The next couple of months could determine whether or not Stewart will get that chance this season.

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