Sal Stewart

Sal Maxwell Stewart (born December 7, 2003) is an American professional baseball first baseman and third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025. Stewart was named to his first All-Star game in 2026.

Amateur career Stewart attended Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, Florida, where he played baseball and basketball. As a senior in 2022, he batted .514 with nine home runs, 23 RBIs, and 13 doubles. He ended his high school career playing 91 games while recording a .488 batting average, thirty home runs, 95 RBIs, and 31 doubles. After his senior year, he was named to the 2022 All-USA Today HSSA Baseball Team. He committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University.

Professional career Minor leagues The Cincinnati Reds selected Stewart with the 32nd overall selection of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team for $2.1 million.

Stewart made his professional debut in 2022 with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Reds with whom he batted .295 over eight games. He was assigned to the Daytona Tortugas in Single-A to open the 2023 season. In early August, he was promoted to the High-A Dayton Dragons. Over 117 games between the two affiliates, Stewart batted .275 with 12 home runs and 71 RBI. Stewart remained with Dayton to open the 2024 season. Over eighty games, Stewart hit .279 with eight home runs and 46 RBI before his season was ended in July with a wrist injury. He was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to open the 2025 season. After the season, Stewart won both the Southern League Most Valuable Player Award and its Top MLB Prospect Award. In July, he was promoted to the Triple-A Louisville Bats. He was selected to represent the Reds (alongside Alfredo Duno) at the 2025 All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park. Over 118 games between Chattanooga and Louisville, Stewart hit .309 with twenty home runs and eighty RBI.

Major leagues 2025 On August 31, 2025, the Reds announced they would be promoting Stewart to the major leagues for the first time the following day. He made his MLB debut the next day at Great American Ball Park versus the Toronto Blue Jays as Cincinnati's starting first baseman and recorded his first MLB hit, a single off of Chris Bassitt. Stewart recorded his first MLB home run, a two-run home run, on September 6 against Jonah Tong of the New York Mets. Stewart played in 18 games for the Reds in 2025 and hit .255 with five home runs and eight RBI.

2026 Against the San Francisco Giants on August 26, Stewart became the third rookie ever to reach 100 RBI before any other MLB player that season. Two days later against the Chicago Cubs, he had his 101st RBI, passing Jim Greengrass (1953) for the most by a Reds rookie. One day later, he became the first Reds rookie to achieve a 30-homer, 100-RBI season.

Career accomplishments Cincinnati Reds franchise records Most RBI by a rookie (previously held by Jim Greengrass with 100)

Personal life Stewart is a Christian. He has said, “Jesus Christ, He’s my Lord and Savior. He’s changed my life so much. When I was younger, I always said [that] trying to get to the big leagues was always my dream. But my dream now is just to glorify His name. Without Him, I’m nothing and I can’t do this. He gives me all the strength to do this.”