Reds' Sal Stewart has a rare profile for young hitters, according to an AL exec
TL;DR
Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart is gaining attention for his unique skill set, praised by an AL executive for having a rare profile among young hitters. The Reds currently lead the NL Central with a 20-11 record.
Key points
- Cincinnati Reds lead NL Central with a 20-11 record
- Sal Stewart is a standout rookie for the Reds
- An AL executive praised Stewart's rare profile among young hitters
Reds' Sal Stewart has a rare profile for young hitters, according to an AL exec originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cincinnati Reds are sitting atop the NL Central with an impressive 20-11 record. Even though they own a negative three-run differential, the Reds are showing up as one of the best teams in baseball so far this season.
One of the reasons why things have gone so well for the Reds this season has been thanks to a breakout from rookie Sal Stewart. He's been incredible for the Reds this season.
And as MLB.com's Mark Feinsand shared, the Reds rookie received some very high praise from a rival AL executive who took note of how Stewart owns a combination of skills to form a rare profile for a young hitter in the big leagues.
Sal Stewart has a rare hitting profile for a young hitter
"He hits the ball hard, hits for power, has shown great plate discipline, and has above-average contact skills," one AL executive said. "[That's] a difficult profile to find in young players."
Stewart has been one of the best hitters in the big leagues so far this season, and his statistical profile has shown just how elite he's been.
Through 31 games and 134 plate appearances, he has 32 hits, 20 runs scored, six doubles, nine homers, 29 RBIs (most in MLB), seven stolen bases, an 18-to-24 walk-to-strikeout ratio, a .281 batting average, and a .943 OPS.
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The Reds' 22-year-old rookie infielder is one of the best hitters in the sport this season based on just the surface-level numbers.
Digging deeper into his game, Stewart's 81st percentile walk rate, 96th percentile barrel rate, and 96th percentile batting run value according to Baseball Savant show just how great he's been this season.
He's able to make contact routinely, has some great pop when he does make contact, and is even a patient hitter. As this anonymous AL executive said, this is a rare combination of traits for the Reds slugger.
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Q&A
What makes Sal Stewart's hitting profile rare for a young player?
Sal Stewart's combination of skills has been noted by an AL executive as exceptional for a young hitter in the big leagues.
How are the Cincinnati Reds performing this season?
The Cincinnati Reds are leading the NL Central with a 20-11 record, despite having a negative run differential.
Who praised Sal Stewart's performance in the MLB?
Sal Stewart received high praise from a rival AL executive, highlighting his impressive skills as a rookie.
