Reds Infielder Sal Stewart Wins National League Rookie of the Year Award
- On Monday, the Baseball Writers' Association of America named Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year, defeating New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt.
- Stewart played all 162 games during his record-breaking 2026 season, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 112 runs to shatter Jim Greengrass's 73-year-old franchise RBI record for a rookie.
- Becoming the first Reds rookie to produce a 30-homer and 100-RBI season, Stewart joined an exclusive group; each of the previous nine players achieving this feat since 1947 also won Rookie of the Year, per MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
- "Man, relieved," Stewart told MLB Network after the award announcement. The victory secures Cincinnati an extra draft pick through Major League Baseball's Prospect Promotion Incentive for giving him a full rookie season.
- Despite lagging behind Benge and Wetherholt in advanced metrics like WAR, voters prioritized Stewart's power and durability. The race sparked debate, as his competitors offered superior defensive and all-around seasons.
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35 Articles
Mets’ all-around star Carson Benge snubbed in NL Rookie of the Year results
Regardless of the analytical revolution that has gripped Major League Baseball, the traditional home-runs-and-RBI stat line still sells, and it’s why Carson Benge is not holding the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart received 20 of 30 first-place votes and 170 total points to win the award. Benge...
Rookie of the Year Results Spur Debate, Developing Pitchers, Old Friend Out, and Other Cubs Bullets - Bleacher Nation
If this offseason – well, the partial stub start of it anyway – is truly going to be unlike other ones in terms of an overly aggressive pace, then I’ve gotta believe we’ll see actually meaningful moves around baseball this week, right? Not a ton. That’ll still be reserved for the final days before the lockout. But a couple. A few. If not, then I’m wondering if it’s all just gonna compress in that final week thanks to the Qualifying Offer decisi…
[OSEN=Reporter Lee Hu-gwang] A Korean-American infielder who wanted to wear the Taegeuk uniform in the last WBC (World Baseball Classic) has proudly ranked third in the Major League Baseball National League Rookie of the Year voting. JJ Weatherholt (24), a second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals who had an outstanding debut season, ranked third behind Sal Stewart (Cincinnati Reds) and Carson Benge (New York Mets) in the National League Rookie…
“The Worst I’ve Seen”: Analyst Slams Voting Behind Carson Benge's NL Rookie of the Year Finish
Sal Stewart’s 20 first-place votes secured the NL Rookie of the Year, but the voting distribution below sparked immediate questions. Mets rookie Carson Benge finished second, yet the final results left fans questioning how voters evaluated the race. What looked like a straightforward decision quickly became a much bigger talking point. “The NL Rookie of […]
Sal Stewart’s girlfriend Natalie Espinosa drops 4-word reaction to the Cardinals star’s 2026 NL ROY Award victory
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart's girlfriend, Natalie Espinosa, kept her reaction to four words after Sal Stewart was named the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year on Monday night.
Reds’ Sal Stewart Wins NL Rookie of Year
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart won National League Rookie of the Year after a 32-home-run, 112-RBI season, becoming the ninth Reds player to receive the honor. His power and durability bolstered optimism about the team’s young core, though advanced-metrics analysis highlighted defensive and baserunning weaknesses that temper his all-around value. · 18 sources across the spectrum on IJR News.
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