'He's a beast.' Can Reds' Sal Stewart win NL Rookie of the Year?

'He's a beast.' Can Reds' Sal Stewart win NL Rookie of the Year?

Coincidentally on Jackie Robinson Day across Major League Baseball, Cincinnati Reds' rookie Sal Stewart continued a rookie season surge that has him on the fast track to winning the award named after the player who broke the game's color barrier 79 years ago.

The Reds waited 22 years for one of their rookies to win the Jackie Robinson Award, also known as the Rookie of the Year.

Jonathan India broke through in 2021, now Stewart is the betting favorite five years later.

Stewart has shined in a struggling Cincinnati lineup through the first month of the season. He helped his National League ROY campaign in a big way on Wednesday, April 15, slugging a pair of three-run homers in the Reds' 8-3 win over the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park.

According to the Reds, Stewart's six RBI are tied for the second-most by a Reds rookie in a single game since rookie rules were established in 1958.

"Don't throw it over the plate to him," fellow rookie Rhett Lowder. "He's a beast."

Elly De La Cruz added: "I like everything (about Stewart's game). He's a really good hitter."

De La Cruz, who hit a 442-foot homer of his own Wednesday, is the youngest player in Reds' history to post a multi-homer game in 2024 at 22 years, 88 days old. Stewart is just 41 days older.

Stewart's six RBI helped the Reds, who entered the night 27th in baseball in scoring, post a season-high eight runs. The five-run cushion was the largest of the club's 11 wins thus far.

"We have such a deep lineup and we're gonna show that. We're gonna prove that" Stewart said. "I've said it over and over again. I'm excited for what this lineup can do."

How does Sal Stewart stack up against other MLB rookies?

According to an odds tracker for all MLB awards, Stewart was +220 to win the National League Rookie of the Year award going into Wednesday's tilt.

He's one of five players listed at less than 15-to-1 to win the award, along with New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean, Pittsburgh shortstop Konnor Griffin, St. Louis shortstop JJ Wetherholt and Miami outfielder Owen Caissie.

Stewart's seven homers are most among MLB rookies and tied with Brandon Lowe and Aaron Judge for second most in the league. After Wednesday's win, he leads MLB in slugging percentage. He's also top 5 in total bases, extra-base hits, OPS and RBI.

Griffin, who made his MLB debut April 3, is hitting .189 with five RBI. Wetherholt is hitting .227 and hit a pair of homers in the Cardinals' win over Cleveland Tuesday. Caissie is hitting .245 for the Marlins but has just one hit in 17 at-bats since going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI against Cincinnati April 9.

McLean, the only pitcher in the top 5 in the betting odds for the award, is 1-1 with a 2.28 ERA over four starts.

"His confidence is really high. He uses all of the field. He's just a really good hitter," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "It's early. Let's let it play out. He's done a tremendous job."

Stewart echoed that not-so-fast mentality with 88.9% of the regular season still remaining.

"The game's over now. I'll enjoy it tonight, but tomorrow, we gotta come out here and look for a sweep," Stewart said. "I'm super happy to help the team win and I put my team in a good position."

Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.

The Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.

The Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.

The St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.

Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.

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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

1 / 6

Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

2 / 6

Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.

3 / 6

Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

The Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.

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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

The Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.

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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

The St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.

6 / 6

Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds' Sal Stewart looks like NL Rookie of the Year candidate