Sal Stewart’s second base reps hints at bigger plans ahead for another prospect

The Cincinnati Reds are going to have some balancing act going into 2026 to get all of their best players in the lineup at the same time. The corners are crowded in the infield, with Ke'Bryan Hayes, Eugenio Suarez, Spencer Steer, and Sal Stewart all vying for reps. That's four players for only three spots if you include DH.

Steer's versatility will help for 2026. The 28-year-old is expected to work in both the infield and the outfield this season. That work help for now, but what about the future? Things will only get more crowded.

Top prospect Cam Collier is one of the Reds' most important future pieces, and one who's in need of a big spring following a somewhat disappointing 2025 campaign. He's also facing a murky future. Hayes is under contract through 2029, Suarez could stick around in 2027, and Stewart is just getting started

Adding another corner infielder like Collier to the mix creates an impossible bottleneck unless something gives. Thankfully, most of Stewart's reps this spring are going to come at both first and second base. If he can stick at second base moving forward, the logjam might clear.

The Reds could be setting up Cam Collier for an eventual path to the bigs by playing Sal Stewart at second base this spring

Louisville Bats manager Pat Kelly thinks that second base might be Stewart's best defensive position, and if that turns out to be true, it could mean that Collier will have a shot at first base, eventually.

This isn't anything imminent. Collier just turned 21 back in November, and after a strong showing in 2024, he saw his power disappear in 2025. The youngster went from 20 homers to just four in the time he split between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga last year. His combined .279/.391/.384 line was an uneven performance.

But a strong 2026 campaign could put him on the map for a 2027 big league arrival. He'd just need a place to play. If Stewart proves he can handle second base defensively, that would mean first base would theoretically open up for Collier if Steer stays in the outfield. A lot of moving parts, but you can see the vision.

There's also the issue of Matt McLain to worry about. McLain struggled mightily last year, coming off a shoulder injury, which was a major disappointment as a delayed follow-up to his impressive rookie campaign. Right now, he's the starting second baseman. If he struggles and Stewart can handle the keystone, he won't last in that role.

If he excels this year, things get complicated for Collier again. Then again, there have been rumblings about the Reds giving McLain run in center field, so that might eventually provide another pathway forward.

For now, Collier needs to be worrying about controlling what he can and showing out in spring and then throughout the 2026 season. From there, the Reds are doing their part by maximizing the versatility of their pieces in order to keep their options open.