Reds' Stewart Defends Offense After Slow Start

Cincinnati infielder Sal Stewart disputes concerns about the team's hitting despite early struggles.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:28pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player swinging a bat, with the action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of red, black, and white.Sal Stewart's impressive at-bats and opposite-field power hint at the Reds' offensive potential, even as the team searches for consistency early in the season.Cincinnati Today

Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart has been a bright spot for the team early in the season, posting impressive offensive numbers despite the team's slow start. After a nine-pitch at-bat and opposite-field home run against Giants pitcher Robbie Ray, Stewart pushed back on concerns about the Reds' offense, arguing that the team has put together quality at-bats that don't always show up in the box score.

Why it matters

The Reds are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season, and Stewart's early production has been a welcome sign. However, the team's overall offensive struggles have raised questions about their ability to compete in the NL Central. Stewart's defense of the team's approach could help ease concerns if the Reds can start stringing together more wins.

The details

In Tuesday's win over the Giants, Stewart worked a nine-pitch at-bat against Robbie Ray, ultimately hitting a go-ahead, opposite-field home run on a pitch that surprised even the Giants' broadcast team. After the game, Stewart pointed to the team's ability to grind out at-bats and force Ray from the game early as evidence that the offense is better than it may appear on the surface.

  • On Tuesday, Stewart hit a home run in the Reds' win over the Giants.
  • Through 17 games this season, Stewart is batting .310 with nine extra-base hits and three stolen bases.

The players

Sal Stewart

A Cincinnati Reds infielder who has been a bright spot for the team's offense early in the 2026 season.

Robbie Ray

The Giants pitcher who faced off against Stewart in Tuesday's game.

Terry Francona

The manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

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What they’re saying

“The guy somehow just clips it perfect, and it's a home run. It's one of those where you look back at it and you can't really get mad because you felt like you made a good pitch.”

— Robbie Ray

“In an era of baseball where you're not supposed to talk about the top hand, he has a great top hand. He can get on top of that ball. I know that's not a real popular term in today's game.”

— Terry Francona, Reds manager

“We had a lot of good at-bats. People who are just looking might (say we only had) three hits or we're not hitting. We had 97 pitches through four innings (against Ray). If that's not a testament to all of these guys at-bats, I don't know what is. I put all of my money on these guys.”

— Sal Stewart

What’s next

The Reds will look to continue building momentum as they aim to climb back into contention in the NL Central.

The takeaway

Despite the Reds' slow start, Sal Stewart's early-season production and defense of the team's offensive approach suggest the lineup may be better than it appears on the surface. If other Reds hitters can find their rhythm, the team could emerge as a surprise contender in the division.