Sal Stewart’s Reds debut comes with a twist fans didn’t see coming

The Cincinnati Reds finally made the call and Sal Stewart will make his Major League debut on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Reds top prospect has been one of the best hitters in the entire organization for most of the season, and Cincinnati's front office made the move official on September 1 when rosters expanded.

Stewart will be in the Reds starting lineup on Monday, but not necessarily where you'd expect. The 21-year-old will make his big league debut at first base — a position that's somewhat foreign to him. Stewart has just two Minor League starts at first base, and only began learning the position after being promoted to Triple-A Louisville last month.

Obviously this means that first baseman Spencer Steer will be getting the day off. Though this shakeup shouldn't necessarily be viewed as a passing of the torch from Steer to Stewart, it is a sign that perhaps the young prospect's future could be a first base.

Sal Stewart’s Reds debut comes in place of Spencer Steer at first base

Stewart came up through the minor leagues as a third baseman, but his path to the big leagues became blocked once the Reds acquired Ke'Bryan Hayes at the trade deadline. As good as Stewart's bat may be, Terry Francona and the Cincinnati coaching staff have put an emphasis on defense this season, and there aren't many better defenders in all of baseball than Hayes.

The Reds began giving Stewart increased reps at first and second base over the past few weeks, and many fans assumed he'd supplant Matt McLain at the keystone. The Reds' best player in 2023, McLain has endured a difficult season in 2025. But after back-to-back games with a home run, it became almost impossible for Francona to take him out of the lineup heading into Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

Steer has played Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base this season, so it's unlikely that Francona is effectively benching the Reds slugger. Without a serviceable backup, however, Steer has carried the load at first base and was likely in line for a day off anyway. Steer also brings a measure of versatility to the Reds' roster, as he can play multiple positions on defense.

Slotting Stewart at first base likely isn't permanent, but it's one of the easiest ways to get his bat into the lineup. Look for Stewart to give both Hayes and McLain a day off later in the week as the Reds' coaching staff tries to find creative ways to keep him in the batting order every day.

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