The Cincinnati Reds officially promoted top prospect on Monday, adding him to the roster alongside Yosver Zulueta before their series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Fans have been eager to see Stewart make his big-league debut, and with September roster expansion, that moment has finally arrived.
However, his call-up raises questions: Why did the Reds wait this long? Where will Stewart fit defensively? Will he crack the everyday lineup, and if so, which players will see reduced playing time?
Those answers will come in time, but the key takeaway is that Stewart is now in the majors and could play an important role for Cincinnati as they push for a postseason spot. Entering Monday’s game, the Reds sat four games behind the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card chase.
Sal Stewart finally joins Reds as September call-up alongside added pitching help
Sal Stewart isn’t just one of the Reds’ top prospects—he’s been one of the best hitters in all of Minor League Baseball this year. The 21-year-old spent most of the season with Double-A Chattanooga before earning a call-up to Triple-A Louisville about a month ago.
At Chattanooga, Stewart put together a strong .306/.377/.473 line with a 146 wRC+. He was even better after moving up, slashing .315/.394/.629 in 38 games with the Bats, posting an 11.5% walk rate, a 15.8% strikeout rate, and a 163 wRC+.
While he may not be the Reds’ savior, adding Stewart’s bat should give the lineup a much-needed boost. His defensive role is still uncertain—he’s logged time at first, second, and third base—but Cincinnati could also slot him in at DH, especially with Miguel Andujar still battling a quad issue.
The wait was longer than fans expected, but Stewart is finally in a Reds uniform. Now the question is whether he’ll rise to the occasion.
With the offense struggling, Cincinnati is counting on him to provide a spark. If he delivers, Stewart could be the piece that helps push the Reds to their first postseason appearance since 2013 (excluding the shortened 2020 season).
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