Reds rookie Sal Stewart just got ultimate vote of confidence from Spencer Steer

Sal Stewart created quite a buzz last September when he made his Cincinnati Reds debut. The youngster forced the issue by tearing the cover off the ball at both Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, putting forth a combined .309/.383/.524 line, and that production immediately translated to the bigs.

Stewart hit .255/.293/.545 with five dingers over just 58 plate appearances in his first taste of big league action, and then carried his hot bat into the playoffs, going 2-for-4 in two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yet when it comes to NL Rookie of the Year contenders, he's still getting lost in the shuffle. A poll conducted by MLB Pipeline of MLB executives saw Stewart receive just 4.7% of the votes when they were asked which prospect was most likely to take home NL Rookie of the Year honors.

But those around Stewart every day see things differently. The 22-year-old will have to vanquish some division foes in order to take home the hardware at season's end, but teammate Spencer Steer thinks he's the frontrunner.

Spencer Steer believes Reds phenom Sal Stewart should be the NL Rookie of the Year favorite

One of the curious things about how the Reds' roster is constructed is the glut of talent at the corner infield spots. While he's not known for his bat, Ke'Bryan Hayes is one of the best defenders at any position in baseball, ensuring he'll be the everyday third baseman. That leaves first base and DH as a revolving door between Stewart, Steer, and Eugenio Suarez.

Suarez's bat is too important to keep out of the lineup, and at his age, DH will be his primary home. Stewart is the future, and that likely bumps Steer into a utility role, where he'll be tasked with playing some at the cold corner as well as getting run in the outfield and even perhaps getting some chances at second base.

For some veterans, that would mean a simmering sense of animosity bubbling beneath the surface. A player like Steer isn't a star, but he has proven himself to be a quality big leaguer, while Stewart has only a handful of at-bats at this level. Steer isn't like those players, though, and as the ultimate team player, he couldn't be more excited about what the future holds for Cincinnati's top prospect.

“I’d be shocked if he (Stewart) doesn’t win the Rookie of the Year this year,” Steer said, and then added, “He’s that good of a hitter. There’s a way he goes about it. He brings a good energy every day, and I love the confidence he has. He knows he’s good. That can be a tough thing to balance when you first get called up. I kind of fought imposter syndrome when I was first here. Do I really belong here? He knows he belongs here. That’s why he’s so good.”

That's not just lip service. Through three games of Cactus League action, Stewart is picking up right where he left off last year. It's a small sample, but a .400/.571/1.000 line with a homer is nothing to sneeze at.

Stewart is also getting reps at second base and could be a threat to third-year man Matt McLain should he struggle to bounce back. That will help keep the prized prospect in the lineup, no matter what configuration makes sense to Terry Francona that day.

With power, plate discipline, versatility, and a strong work ethic, it's hard to imagine Stewart not finding success in 2026. If that happens, he might just surprise the MLB execs and add the NL Rookie of the Year to his trophy case. It seems like that's exactly what Steer expects to happen.