Stewart wins NL Rookie of the Year after historic 32-homer output
Sal Stewart, the 22-year-old first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He secured the honor with 20 first-place votes and 170 total points, outpacing Carson Benge of the Mets and JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals.
Stewart’s campaign included 32 home runs, 112 RBIs, and a .263 batting average with a .787 OPS across all 162 games. He also led NL rookies in extra-base hits and total bases while recording 164 hits, the most for a Reds rookie since Pete Rose in 1963.
This achievement marks the ninth time a Cincinnati player has won the award, placing the franchise in a small group of teams with that many recipients. Stewart is the only Reds rookie to combine 30 home runs with 100 RBIs, a feat previously accomplished by just 14 players in Major League history.
Notably, he hit more home runs on the road than at home, despite Great American Ball Park being considered hitter-friendly. He also made starts at second base, third base, and as the designated hitter during the season.
