Rhett Lowder and Sal Stewart fuel Reds' optimism after strong start

These two young players are making early cases for NL Rookie of the Year.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or action, with sharp, overlapping planes of red, black, and white colors representing the Cincinnati Reds' team palette, conveying the energy and excitement of the team's strong start to the season.The Reds' young stars Rhett Lowder and Sal Stewart have emerged as early standouts, fueling optimism for the team's playoff hopes.Cincinnati Today

The Cincinnati Reds got off to a strong start to the 2026 MLB season, winning two out of three games against the Boston Red Sox. Rookie outfielder Sal Stewart has been a standout so far, hitting .700 with a 2.069 OPS through the first three games. Meanwhile, rookie pitcher Rhett Lowder turned in a strong five-inning outing in the Reds' Sunday win, giving up just two runs on three hits while striking out five. With these early performances, the two young players are generating excitement and optimism around the Reds, who are hoping to make a return trip to the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Reds are looking to build on last season's success and compete for a division title in 2026. The strong starts from Lowder and Stewart have provided an early boost and have them emerging as potential dark-horse candidates for NL Rookie of the Year honors.

The details

In the Reds' opening series against the Red Sox, Stewart hit .700 with three doubles, one home run, and two RBIs. Lowder, meanwhile, turned in a solid five-inning outing in Sunday's 3-2 win, limiting the Red Sox to two runs on three hits while striking out five. Their performances have generated early buzz, with Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicting they 'could end up being dark-horse candidates in the NL Rookie of the Year race, and key contributors for a Reds team eyeing a repeat trip to the playoffs.'

  • The Reds opened their 2026 season against the Boston Red Sox on March 28.
  • Sal Stewart and Rhett Lowder made their MLB debuts in the Reds' opening series.

The players

Sal Stewart

A rookie outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds who has gotten off to a hot start, hitting .700 with a 2.069 OPS through the first three games of the season.

Rhett Lowder

A rookie pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds who turned in a strong five-inning outing in the team's Sunday win over the Red Sox, giving up just two runs on three hits while striking out five.

Eugenio Suarez

A veteran infielder for the Cincinnati Reds who the team acquired in the offseason and is expected to be a key contributor this season.

Elly De La Cruz

A highly touted Reds prospect who is expected to make an impact for the team this season.

Joel Reuter

A writer for Bleacher Report who has high expectations for Lowder and Stewart as potential NL Rookie of the Year candidates.

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What they’re saying

“Rookies Sal Stewart and Rhett Lowder both made their mark on the Reds' opening series. They could end up being dark-horse candidates in the NL Rookie of the Year race, and key contributors for a Reds team eyeing a repeat trip to the playoffs.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The Reds will look to continue their strong start to the season as they face the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game series beginning on April 3.

The takeaway

The early performances of Sal Stewart and Rhett Lowder have provided a significant boost of optimism for the Cincinnati Reds, who are hoping to build on last season's success and compete for a division title in 2026. If these two young players can sustain their strong play, they could emerge as key contributors and potential Rookie of the Year candidates.