Sal Stewart Has Contended for NL RBI Title
The Cincinnati Reds rookie chases the league lead as the 2026 season draws to a close.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Baseball
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Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart has emerged as a top contender for the National League runs batted in title. He currently sits with 110 RBIs, trailing Alec Burleson by a single run.
Why it matters
Stewart has anchored the Cincinnati offense in his debut campaign, positioning himself as a primary candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year award.
Sal Stewart leads all National League rookies with 32 home runs and ranks second with 25 doubles. He currently maintains 2.2 wins above replacement.
The players
Sal Stewart
He is a rookie for the Cincinnati Reds currently leading all National League rookies in home runs and RBIs.
Alec Burleson
He is a professional baseball player currently leading Sal Stewart by one RBI in the National League standings.
Johnny Bench
He is a legendary former Cincinnati Reds catcher who led the National League in RBIs in 1970, 1972, and 1974.
George Foster
He is a former outfielder who led the National League in RBIs for the Reds from 1976 through 1978.
Dave Parker
He is a former major league player who led the National League in RBIs in 1985.
The details
Stewart is fighting to become the first Reds player to lead the National League in RBIs since the mid-1980s. He will look to close the one-run gap against Alec Burleson during the team's final three road games against the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Timeline
1970: Johnny Bench led the National League in runs batted in.
1972: Johnny Bench led the National League in runs batted in.
1974: Johnny Bench led the National League in runs batted in.
1976-1978: George Foster led the National League in runs batted in.
1985: Dave Parker led the National League in runs batted in.
The Big Picture
The story follows the precedent set by the 1985 National League RBI title chase led by Dave Parker, as Stewart aims to return a Cincinnati player to the top of the league statistics.
Stewart remains a critical fantasy asset for managers down the stretch given his 32 home runs and consistent RBI production. His remaining matchups against the Braves and Blue Jays will serve as the final statistical barometer for his rookie of the year candidacy.
The takeaway
Stewart's season highlights the impact of rookie power hitters on team success. Fans should monitor his performance in the final series to see if he can overtake Burleson in the league standings.
Further reading
For more on the current standing of the team, visit the Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLWT5.
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