Rising Reds prospect is making a loud statement while Sal Stewart grabs the headlines

Cincinnati Reds fans have been focused on the early-season exploits of Sal Stewart, and rightfully so. The Reds' first baseman is easily the frontrunner for this year's NL Rookie of the Year Award, and it's not unreasonable to suggest that he should be receiving some MVP chatter at the moment.

Stewart has been the spark for the Reds' lineup at the outset of the 2026 campaign. Heading into play on Friday, he was hitting .297/.389/.615 with eight home runs and 24 RBI. Pair that with the red-hot start from shortstop Elly De La Cruz, and Cincinnati has a fantastic 1-2 punch in the middle of their batting order.

Reds prospect Cam Collier is off to a hot-start

But lost amid the chaos in the 'Season of Sal' has been the start to the year that his draft-mate Cam Collier has put together. After receiving a non-roster invite to spring training, Collier was assigned to Double-A Chattanooga to begin the year and he's tapped back into that power that was missing last season.

Through 18 games, Collier is hitting .265/.363/.485 with eight extra-base hits, including three home runs. The power was absent from Collier's game in 2025 after he suffered a hamate injury during spring training. It would seem, however, that he's got his strength back in that wrist and he's now driving the ball to all fields.

Collier was actually taken several picks ahead of Stewart in the 2022 MLB Draft. Many scouts believed the teenage dynamo could've gone No. 1 overall, but strangely he fell to the Reds at No. 18. Stewart was selected 14 picks later at No. 32.

Both players made their way up through the minor league ranks together, but Collier's injury kept him out of action for the first several weeks of the 2025 season. The two joined forces together in Chattanooga for a few weeks before Stewart was promoted to Triple-A Louisville, and then eventually the majors.

Collier will be looking to follow in Stewart's footsteps this season, and he's off to a fine start. The 21-year old has now accumulated over 300 at-bats at the Double-A level. Stewart had just under 300 at-bats with the Lookouts last season before being bumped up a level.

Collier has seen the majority of his starts come at third base this season — something that will be critical to his overall development if he and Stewart hope to one day play on the same team. Stewart has already cemented himself as the Reds' everyday first baseman this season, even though his defensive metrics are below average. Collier has 14 starts at the hot corner this season and another two at first base.

Much like Stewart, if Collier's bat, not his glove, it what will get him to the big leagues. So far this season, he's done nothing to slow his development in that area.

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