Sal Stewart has shortly grow to be a fan-favorite within the metropolis of Cincinnati. The younger rookie was batting cleanup for the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day, and his .366/.471/.683 slash line by the primary two weeks of the season has simply justified that decision.
Stewart seems to be like the actual deal, which made all of it the simpler for the Reds to half with Christian Encarnacion-Strand earlier this week. Cincinnati wanted to make a corresponding transfer after choosing the contract of P.J. Higgins on Wednesday, and the Reds choose to designate Encarncion-Strand for assignment.
Reds’ DFA decision was easy because of Sal Stewart
CES, as he was recognized all through Reds Country, burst onto the scene in 2023 and followers shortly gravitated towards him because of his prodigious energy. Encarnacion-Strand walloped 13 house runs in 63 video games as a rookie and posted an .805 OPS with a .477 slugging proportion.
But accidents derailed his ascent in 2024, and poor efficiency adopted. Encarnacion-Strand performed in simply 29 video games throughout his second season in Cincinnati, and a wrist harm that ultimately resulted in surgical procedure, landed him on the 60-day IL. Encarnacion-Strand returned to the sphere in 2025, however appeared in simply 36 video games and hit .208 with a .610 OPS.
The Reds yo-yo’d Encarnacion-Strand forwards and backwards between Triple-A and the large leagues till halfway by the 2025 season. Cincinnati lastly determined it was greatest for his improvement to stay within the minors all through the remainder of the season, and he closed out his marketing campaign hitting a meager .229/.287/.458 with a 25.4% strikeout price.
The Reds are hoping that Stewart does not comply with the identical path that doomed CES, and in the intervening time, it seems he is on an upward trajectory. Stewart started final season at Double-A Chattanooga, and after hitting .306 with a 146 wRC+ by 80 video games, the Reds promoted him to Triple-A.
Stewart continued to mash on the upper-level of the minor leagues, hitting .315 with a 164 wRC+ in 38 video games with the Louisville Bats. The Reds added Stewart to the Major League roster for the ultimate month of the season, and he was one of the workforce’s key performers throughout their transient playoff look towards the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Stewart has voiced his desire to remain with the Reds organization for the lengthy haul, however to this point, there’ve been no studies of a contract extension. Given Encarnacion-Strand’s fall from grace, some Reds followers are rightfully hesitant to hitch their wagon to Stewart. But the Reds rookie has continued to show the doubters unsuitable, and there is each purpose to consider that may proceed.
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