Reds are watching Sal Stewart chase a feat no NL rookie has reached

Over the winter, the general sentiment in baseball was that Cincinnati Reds top prospect Sal Stewart would be on the periphery of the NL Rookie of the Year race. Having to compete with NL Central phenoms like Konnor Griffin and JJ Wetherholt was going to be a tall order. Now that the games count, the conversation surrounding Stewart is beginning to shift dramatically.

Stewart's teammates knew that his odds were better than most experts, but even they might not have imagined the statement that Stewart made once the games began to count.

The youngster has not slowed down, and as he sits with a sizzling .303/.413/.682 line and seven homers through 19 games, something bigger than the Rookie of the Year award could be on the docket for him in 2026, and if he pulls it off, he'll be making National League history.

Reds' phenom Sal Stewart could become the first NL rookie to win MVP

Stewart ranks fourth in the National League in wRC+ with a 190 mark. His seven homers are the league's second-best tally, and his 1.1 fWAR has him tied with teammate Elly De La Cruz and Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner for the third-highest mark in the NL.

It's still early, but his performance so far has been record-setting. No MLB rookie has reached seven homers, four doubles, 17 RBI, 13 walks, and three steals in any 18-game stretch since 1920. He's blown any sort of rookie expectations out of the water.

That should have fans starting to think bigger. It's not just an ROY-winning start that the 22-year-old is off to, but it's an MVP-caliber one. That sounds crazy, but given where he ranks so far, it is possible.

The challenge would be tough. Shohei Ohtani has won the last two NL MVPs (and three straight trophies counting 2023's win in the AL), and is back to pitching full-time as well. De La Cruz is also reaching incredible heights in the early going. Then there's the rest of the constellation of established superstars that litter NL contenders' rosters, who will make it tough.

But there are also reasons to believe. Of Stewart's seven homers, a whopping six have gone to the opposite field, showcasing a rare kind of power.

Then there's his maturity. The kid has his head screwed on right. You can't avoid being in awe of his mental makeup when you listen to him speak, as he did after the Reds' April 15 victory against the San Francisco Giants.

“Happy I had a good day today, but the game’s over now … Tomorrow we’ve got to come out here and look for a sweep,” Stewart said, before adding, "What I did today and yesterday doesn’t help what I do tomorrow … I haven’t done anything. Realistically, I haven’t.”

Only two players have ever won the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season, both have come in the American League. They are Fred Lynn of the Boston Red Sox in 1975 and Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners in 2001. No National League player has ever done it.

It won't be easy, and it's not likely, but Stewart could be the first. The combination of incredible talent and amazing mental makeup could help him stay the course and put him over the top at the end of the day. Even if he doesn't come home with both trophies, it's safe to say Reds fans are in for a treat watching him throughout 2026.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow