Sal

Stewart

Stewart received 20 of 30 first-place votes to claim the award ahead of Carson Benge and JJ Wetherholt, who collected seven and three votes, respectively. The power-hitting 22-year-old first baseman put together an impressive campaign from a traditional numbers standpoint, slashing .263/.330/.457 with 32 homers, 112 RBI and 15 steals across 162 games. Benge made a serious late push to fortify his case for the hardware, hitting .282/.346/.430 with 20 homers and 22 steals over 156 contests to finish second in the balloting. He also held a considerable edge in WAR, finishing at 4.3 compared to Stewart’s 2.0 mark, though it wasn’t enough to sway the voters.

Stewart is the clear favorite to take home the hardware after hitting .263/.330/.457 with 32 homers, 112 RBI and 15 steals across 162 games. That shouldn’t diminish what the other two finalists accomplished, as both put together remarkable rookie campaigns of their own. Benge made a compelling late-season push to turn the race into a legitimate debate, finishing with a .282/.346/.430 slash line, 20 homers and 22 steals across 156 contests. Wetherholt also enjoyed an impressive debut, batting .242/.339/.365 with 89 runs scored, 17 homers, 51 RBI and 14 steals in 139 games.

Stewart collected just six RBI and saw his OPS fall from .826 to .787 during the month of September, which might well cost him NL Rookie of the Year honors. He does have 32 homers, and he’s finished third in the majors with 111 RBI. However, a first baseman with a sub-.800 OPS probably doesn’t deserve the hardware in this crowded of a field.

Stewart clobbered a solo shot off Blake Treinen in the fourth inning for his 32nd home run and 109th RBI on the season. He has a .271/.339/.477 slash line and seems to be en route to winning NL Rookie of the Year. He’s been one of the few bright spots for the Reds in a disappointing season.

It seemed like JJ Wetherholt’s injury might clinch NL Rookie of the Year honors for Stewart, but Stewart hasn’t exactly set himself apart since then. He did homer the day Wetherholt went on the IL on Aug. 30, but in 14 games since, he’s hit .259 with one extra-base hit (a double) and two RBI. He is still second in the majors in RBI with 107, which figures to carry a whole lot of weight with some.

This was a game the Red would rather forget. They got destroyed 20-0 by the Brewers and only mustered two measly singles along the way. Funny enough, both of those singles belonged to Stewart who’s putting together a great close to his rookie season with a .316/.356/.544 slash line, four home runs, and three stolen bases over his last 15 games.

Stewart plated a run in the second inning with a sacrifice fly that increased the Reds’ advantage to 3-0. He then singled in the fourth inning and deftly swiped second and third base before being left stranded there. He’s having an outstanding rookie season, slashing .268/.338/.483 with 31 homers, 107 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

The 22-year-old rookie slugger victimized Cubs’ right-hander Kevin Gausman for a 431-foot (105.9-mph EV) two-run shot in the third inning that pulled the Reds to within two runs at 6-4. That would be as close as they would get. Stewart also singled in the ballgame. He’s having an exceptional rookie season, slashing .265/.337/.484 with 30 homers, 104 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

Stewart’s solo homer in the third gave him the Reds’ rookie record for RBI, as he overtook Jim Greengrass’s mark from 1953. He later got an RBI single on an infield hit that Dansby Swanson probably would have turned into an out at shortstop, but Nico Hoerner couldn’t quite pull it off. Stewart is the major league leader with 102 RBI on the season. He’s moved into a tie for 11th in homers.

Stewart becomes the first player to reach 100 RBI this season. It has been a terrific rookie campaign for the 22-year-old. Stewart also has 28 homers and 12 stolen bases, plus he’s eligible at first, third, and second in certain formats. He has made only seven starts at second base, so his playing time there will be worth monitoring over the season’s final month-plus.