Major League Baseball and the national chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) announced Monday night that Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart has been voted
the winner of the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Stewart beat out fellow finalists JJ Wetherholt (St. Louis) and Carson Benge (New York) to become Cincinnati’s ninth-ever recipient of
the honor, the first since Jonathan India in 2021.
Stewart was recognized as a National League All-Star during his first full season at the Major League level, slashing .263/.330/.457 with 32 home runs, 25 doubles, and 112 RBI while appearing in
each of the Reds’ 162 games. He became the seventh Cincinnati rookie to earn an All-Star selection, the first since Scott Williamson in 1999, and first Reds rookie position player to do so since Chris Sabo in 1988.
Stewart, who set Reds rookie records in both RBIs and games, was named a finalist for both the Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Awards for his efforts in 2026.
This season, Stewart led all National League rookies in home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits (57), and total bases (285). His team-leading 32 homers this season were second-most by a Cincinnati
rookie in a single campaign in club history, trailing National Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (38) in 1956.
He recorded at least 20 RBIs in 4 separate months, joining Albert Pujols, Mark McGwire, and Walt Dropo as the only Major League rookies to accomplish that feat in the last 80 years.
The 22-year old infielder was honored as National League Rookie of the Month for both March/April and August, becoming the first Red to earn that distinction multiple times since it was introduced in 2001.
He also became the 14th Major League rookie to produce at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in a season since 1920, when RBI became an official stat.
The other nine rookies to accomplish that feat since 1947, when the Rookie of the Year Award was introduced, also earned the prestigious honor.
Stewart became the fourth Reds rookie since 1920 to lead the team in both home runs and RBIs, joining Spencer Steer (2023), Grady Hatton (1946), and Ival Goodman (1935).
He was also the third Red since 1900 to hit 30 or more home runs in his age-22 season or younger, along with National Baseball Hall of Famers Johnny Bench (45, 1970) & Frank Robinson (38, 1956; 31, 1958).
Stewart was also named NL Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News and earned the MLBPA Players Choice Award for the NL Most Outstanding Rookie, both of which were voted on by his peers.