sal stewart has become the center of a fast-building Cincinnati Reds conversation after an eye-opening spring and a striking offseason transformation. On a recent episode of the Power Stacks Podcast, Reds announcer Jeff Brantley delivered a blunt, memorable assessment of the rookie infielder’s at-bat fight and situational hitting. The buzz intensified earlier this week as manager Terry Francona discussed a possible lineup slot that could place Stewart directly behind Elly De La Cruz.
What’s driving the surge around Sal Stewart right now
Jeff Brantley, Reds announcer known as “The Cowboy, ” praised Stewart’s competitive edge in unusually vivid terms while discussing what Stewart is doing at the plate. “I’ll say this with Sal, ” Brantley said. “He would really piss me off if I was a pitcher. I’ll be honest with you. He would. He would really make me mad. And that is the best compliment that I could give that kid because he fights for it, he wants it, his energy is so high. ”
Brantley went further, pointing to a skill that typically separates hitters who can survive different game states: the ability to adjust swing decisions and outcomes depending on the moment. “The thing that I love about that kid that nobody notices yet, but they will, the pitchers will, he hits different with runners in scoring position, he hits different late in the ballgame with nobody on and you need a home run, and he hits different when he has a runner at third and he hits different when he has a runner at third and two outs when he’s got to get a hit. And when you can change your swing like that and still be really good, that would piss me off. ”
Those comments land alongside hard spring results: Stewart slashed. 326/. 456/. 609, collected seven extra-base hits, appeared in 19 games, and stole four bases.
Immediate reactions, roster questions, and the 26-pound change
Francona added fuel to the discussion earlier this week when he spoke about potentially batting Stewart fourth behind De La Cruz, with Eugenio Suarez batting fifth. “We’ll see, ” Francona said. “I kind of reserve the right to make a lineup out that day. The reason we’ve been doing it is I think it sets Geno up to drive in more runs. Because I think with Elly hitting third, we can separate some strikeouts. But we also have a guy that can trail Elly, and I think Geno can clean up some of the mess there, which is the idea. I think it has a chance to be more productive for us. ”
In the same window of spring optimism, Mark Sheldon of MLB. com wrote that Stewart dropped 26 pounds over the winter as part of a broader push to prepare for his first full Major League season, while also dedicating himself to learning first base in the offseason and learning it on the fly in the big leagues. Sheldon also described Stewart as Cincinnati’s top prospect and baseball’s No. 22 overall, and noted Stewart led the club in September with five home runs.
Local Cincinnati TV reporter Charlie Goldsmith summarized what he viewed as the desired spring outcome on X: “Sal Stewart has had the exact spring you were looking for. He has made the transition to first base (he can also be the backup at second). He has hit, like he always does. He’s using the entire field. He has had some ticker tape homers. And his base running has been very impressive. ”
Quick context: why this matters for Cincinnati’s offense
Cincinnati reached the playoffs last season, but lacked power, creating urgency for impact bats. The club signed Eugenio Suarez in free agency, and the combination of lineup protection plus Stewart’s development has become a central storyline heading into his first full season.
What’s next for sal stewart and the Reds lineup
The next clear checkpoint is Francona’s day-to-day lineup decision-making, including whether the club continues exploring Stewart in a middle-of-the-order role behind De La Cruz. If spring production and the defensive transition continue to hold, the attention on sal stewart will only intensify as Cincinnati looks for reliable power and situational hitting when games tighten late.
