Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart won the National League Rookie of the Year award, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced Monday. Stewart received 20 of 30 first-place votes and was the only player in the NL field to appear in the top five on every ballot. The award also earns Cincinnati a bonus pick after the first round of the 2027 draft through the Prospect Promotion Incentive.
Stewart led NL rookies with 700 plate appearances and hit .263/.330/.457 with 32 home runs and 112 RBI. His home run total was 12 more than any other rookie in the league, while his RBI count was nearly 40 ahead of any other first-year player. He finished eighth in the NL in home runs and trailed only Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson in RBI among all league hitters. Stewart started 110 games at first base, 33 at third base, 11 as a designated hitter, and seven at second base.
Mets outfielder Carson Benge finished second with seven first-place votes and Cardinals middle infielder JJ Wetherholt placed third with three first-place votes. Benge hit .282/.346/.430 with a 20-20 season and was one of the best hitters in the NL after the All-Star Break. Wetherholt appeared to be Stewart's top competition for much of the season but struggled in the second half around a two-week absence due to right wrist tendinitis. Both Benge and Wetherholt were Gold Glove finalists at their positions.
Park adjustments for Cincinnati's hitter-friendly stadium and Stewart's lack of defensive value limited his standing in advanced metrics. Both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference graded Stewart at two wins above replacement, about half the totals for Benge and Wetherholt. The majority of voters prioritized Stewart's power production. All three finalists met Prospect Promotion Incentive criteria and opened the year on their teams' MLB rosters, meaning the winner would secure a bonus pick. Stewart is the Reds' second Rookie of the Year winner this decade and ninth in franchise history.