Sal Stewart Wins 2026 NL Rookie of the Year

The Cincinnati Reds first baseman becomes the club's ninth Rookie of the Year, as the team looks toward a playoff push in 2027.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Baseball

Sal Stewart Wins 2026 NL Rookie of the Year

Live Poll

Do you plan to attend a Reds game next season?

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart won the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year award, beating out JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals and Carson Benge of the New York Mets. Stewart hit 32 home runs with 112 RBIs over 162 games in 2026.

Why it matters

The honor gives the Reds a bright spot after a last-place finish with 75 wins in 2026. Team officials said they are optimistic about contending for the playoffs in 2027.

Stewart's 2026 line of 32 home runs and 112 RBIs came across all 162 games, while the Reds finished last with 75 wins. The vote breakdown among the three finalists was not included in the source material.

The players

Sal Stewart

Stewart is a first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds who was drafted 32nd overall in 2022 and became the club's fifth Rookie of the Year to win during an All-Star season.

The details

Stewart was named NL Player of the Week in the first week of the 2026 season and Rookie of the Month in April and August. He led the Reds with five home runs during his September 2025 debut and was selected to the All-Star team by players.

September 2025: Stewart makes his MLB debut and hits five home runs.
April 2026: Stewart is named Rookie of the Month.
August 2026: Stewart is named Rookie of the Month again.
November 9, 2026: The Rookie of the Year award is announced.

Season Trajectory

Stewart's award arrives as the Reds try to climb from last place in 2026 back toward the postseason in 2027. The honor adds to the club's history of Rookie of the Year winners, placing Stewart among its most notable recent contributors.

Stewart's All-Star season and 32-homer total make him a notable name for fantasy rosters heading into 2027. The Reds' playoff ambitions will depend on how the club builds around its young core this offseason.

The takeaway

Stewart's rapid rise from a 2022 draft pick to a Rookie of the Year shows how quickly young talent can reshape a rebuilding roster. Fans tracking the Reds should watch how the club adds to its lineup this winter.