AI Image
Sal Stewart wins 2026 NL Rookie of the Year Award after finishing third in MLB in RBI
Yahoo Sports • • general
Key Points:
- Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart has been named the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year, receiving 20 of 30 first-place votes and totaling 170 points to surpass finalists Carson Benge and JJ Wetherholt.
- Stewart played all 162 games for the Reds, hitting .263/.330/.457 with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs, ranking third in MLB RBIs for the season.
- Despite debuting late in 2025 and playing 18 games that year, Stewart maintained rookie eligibility and secured the starting first baseman role in 2026, filling a position Cincinnati struggled to solidify since Joey Votto's departure.
- Stewart is the ninth Cincinnati player to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, joining notable Reds such as Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, and Johnny Bench.
- The NL Rookie of the Year race was competitive, with Wetherholt posting a higher WAR (4.5) than Stewart (2.0), and Benge achieving a .282 average with 168 hits and 4.3 bWAR, though Stewart ultimately claimed the honor.
