Reds' Sal Stewart Headlines MLB's Top Rookie List

The 23-year-old first baseman has emerged as the Reds' best hitter in the early season.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:06pm

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An energetic, expressionist painting using vibrant neon colors and rapid brushstrokes to depict the batting motion of a baseball player, capturing the raw athletic power and movement.Rookie Sal Stewart's explosive start at the plate has energized the Reds' struggling offense.Cincinnati Today

Cincinnati Reds rookie first baseman Sal Stewart has been named the top rookie in baseball by CBS Sports' Dayn Perry through the first few weeks of the 2026 MLB season. The 2022 first-round draft pick is batting .366 with a .471 on-base percentage and .683 slugging percentage, leading all qualified hitters in OPS. Stewart has shown an advanced approach at the plate with power to all fields, and the Reds are reportedly looking to sign him to a contract extension to keep the young star in Cincinnati long-term.

Why it matters

Stewart's breakout start has provided a much-needed boost to the Reds' struggling offense, which has been one of the worst in the league so far this season. The Reds are hoping Stewart can develop into an All-Star-caliber player and be a cornerstone of their franchise for years to come.

The details

Prior to his MLB debut in 2025, Stewart had a .289/.390/.466 slash line in the minors with more walks than strikeouts, showing his advanced plate discipline. In his brief 18-game stint with the Reds last season, he hit 5 home runs. This year, Stewart's hot start has included a .366/.471/.683 slash line, 28 total bases, and more walks than strikeouts through 12 games.

  • Stewart made his MLB debut for the Reds in 2025.
  • In the first few weeks of the 2026 MLB season, Stewart has emerged as one of the league's top rookies.

The players

Sal Stewart

A 23-year-old rookie first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds who was the team's first-round draft pick in 2022. He has gotten off to a torrid start in 2026, batting .366 with a .471 on-base percentage and .683 slugging percentage.

Eugenio Suárez

A veteran slugger the Reds added to their lineup this offseason in an effort to boost their struggling offense.

Elly De La Cruz

A highly touted Reds prospect who has also shown promise early this season, though not at the same level as Sal Stewart.

Dayn Perry

A writer for CBS Sports who recently ranked Sal Stewart as the top rookie in baseball through the first few weeks of the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Prior to his big-league debut in 2025, Stewart, a 2022 first-rounder, had a slash line of .289/.390/.466 with almost as many walks as strikeouts. So he could always hit. Speaking of hitting, Stewart has done a lot of that so far in 2026. He's got a triple slash of .366/.471/.683 with three thefts, more walks than strikeouts, and 28 total bases in 12 games. His OPS ranks third among all MLB qualifiers right now.”

— Dayn Perry, CBS Sports Writer

What’s next

The Reds are reportedly looking to sign Sal Stewart to a contract extension to keep the young star in Cincinnati long-term.

The takeaway

Sal Stewart's breakout start has provided a much-needed boost to the Reds' struggling offense, and the team is hoping to lock up the 23-year-old rookie to a long-term deal to make him a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come.