Sal Stewart leads MLB with 106 RBIs as Reds rookie chases NL ROY honors

Sal Stewart is a frontrunner for National League Rookie of the Year honors, per FanGraphs, and the counting-stat case is straightforward: the Cincinnati corner infielder leads all major-league hitters with 106 RBIs through early September.

The 22-year-old has also hit 31 home runs and posted a 121 wRC+ in his debut season. Per the Reds' press notes cited by FanGraphs, only Ted Williams in 1939 and Walt Dropo have led the majors in RBIs as rookies since 1920. Williams drove in 144 that year; the press notes did not specify Dropo's total or season.

Stewart entered professional baseball in 2022 out of a Miami high school. FanGraphs spoke with him before a recent game at Wrigley Field, where the infielder offered terse answers about his approach at the plate. He described himself as someone who is always tinkering in search of what works best, while noting that he has largely retained the same swing mechanics since turning pro — a response that was, per FanGraphs, about as expansive as the conversation got.

What happened

FanGraphs profiled Stewart's rookie campaign and his place in the Rookie of the Year conversation, highlighting the RBI total that puts him in rare historical company. The piece noted Stewart's reserved demeanor when discussing hitting mechanics, a contrast to his animated interactions with teammates in the clubhouse before the interview. FanGraphs described him as entertainingly demonstrative with teammates but far from expansive when answering questions about his craft.

The report did not specify the date of the Wrigley Field conversation or provide additional details about the nature of Stewart's swing adjustments since 2022.

Why it matters

The RBI total is the headline figure, but the context matters: runs batted in are opportunity-dependent, a function of who reaches base ahead of a hitter and when he comes to the plate. Stewart has clearly been stationed in the middle of Cincinnati's lineup, and the Reds have put enough runners on base for him to drive home. The historical footnote underscores the rarity — per the Reds' press notes cited by FanGraphs, only two rookies in more than a century have led the majors in the category, and one of them is Ted Williams.

The wRC+ of 121 indicates Stewart has been meaningfully above league average at creating runs when park and league context are accounted for. That figure, combined with 31 home runs, describes a power threat who is doing more than simply benefiting from favorable lineup placement. The Rookie of the Year race in the National League weighs traditional counting stats like RBIs and home runs alongside rate metrics, and Stewart's case includes both.

The Reds are not in playoff contention, sitting 18.5 games back in the NL Central and 6.5 games out of the Wild Card cut line. That removes the October spotlight from Stewart's candidacy, but individual awards are season-long evaluations, and a rookie leading the majors in a major offensive category will draw votes regardless of team performance.

The numbers

Stewart's season line, per FanGraphs: 31 home runs, 106 RBIs, and a 121 wRC+. The 106 RBIs lead all major-league hitters. The wRC+ of 121 indicates above-average offensive production when adjusted for park and league context. FanGraphs did not provide his batting average, on-base percentage, or slugging percentage, and did not specify whether the 31 home runs lead rookies or where they rank league-wide.

The historical comparison is narrow: Ted Williams drove in 144 runs as a rookie in 1939, and Walt Dropo also led the majors in RBIs as a first-year player, though FanGraphs did not provide Dropo's season or total. Per the Reds' press notes cited in the report, no other rookie has led MLB in the category since 1920.

Where the club stands

The Reds are 69-74, fifth in the NL Central and 18.5 games behind the division leader. They sit 6.5 games out of the Wild Card cut line, eighth in the National League's postseason race. Cincinnati has won two straight games entering Sunday.

The Reds host the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, with Brady Singer set to face Kyle Harrison. Cincinnati then travels to Los Angeles for a series at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium beginning Monday. Chase Burns is the probable starter for the series opener against a Dodgers pitcher to be determined. Nick Lodolo is slated to pitch Tuesday opposite Tarik Skubal.

The schedule offers no favors for a club trying to build momentum in the season's final weeks. The Dodgers series will test a pitching staff that has been active on the transaction front in recent days. Two days before the FanGraphs report, the Reds were set to select outfielder Carlos Jorge from Triple-A Louisville for his major-league debut. Around the same time, Cincinnati reportedly added outfielder Dominic Fletcher on a minor-league deal and assigned him to Louisville, with a potential call-up opportunity noted. The Reds were also expected to activate right-hander Graham Ashcraft off the 60-day injured list on Sunday, more than three months after a right forearm UCL sprain.

Stewart's production has been one of the few bright spots in a season that has seen the Reds fall out of contention. The corner infielder has provided middle-of-the-order thump in a lineup that has needed it, and his ability to drive in runs has kept Cincinnati competitive in individual games even as the playoff picture has receded.

What we don't know yet

FanGraphs did not provide Stewart's full slash line, so his batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage remain unspecified in the report. The piece also did not detail where Stewart ranks among National League rookies in other offensive categories, nor did it name other Rookie of the Year candidates or their statistics.

The historical comparison to Walt Dropo is incomplete as reported. The Reds' press notes cited by FanGraphs did not specify the year Dropo led the majors in RBIs as a rookie or how many he drove in. Those details were not part of the report.

Stewart's defensive position is described only as "corner infielder" by FanGraphs. Whether he has played primarily first base or third base, or split time between the two, was not specified. Defensive metrics and positional value will factor into Rookie of the Year voting, but the report focused on offensive production.

The timing of the Wrigley Field interview was not provided, so it is unclear how recent the conversation was or whether Stewart's RBI total has changed since then. FanGraphs also did not elaborate on what Stewart meant by tinkering — whether that refers to mechanical adjustments, pitch recognition work, or situational hitting refinements was left unspecified.

What to watch

The Rookie of the Year race will unfold over the season's final weeks, and Stewart's candidacy will depend on whether he can sustain his production. The RBI total is a compelling narrative, but voters will also weigh other offensive metrics, defensive value, and the overall shape of rookie seasons across the league. FanGraphs characterized Stewart as a frontrunner, but did not name other candidates or provide any indication of where the race stands beyond his own numbers.

Stewart's approach at the plate, as described by FanGraphs, suggests a player still refining his craft while relying on a foundational swing he has carried since high school. How that process continues to develop will shape not only the remainder of his rookie season but his longer arc as a major-league hitter — though Stewart himself, at least in the Wrigley Field conversation, seemed content to let the bat handle the explaining.

The Dodgers series will be a test against a playoff-bound club, and Stewart's performance against high-leverage pitching could add weight to his Rookie of the Year case heading into the final stretch. If he finishes the season leading the majors in RBIs, he will join Williams and Dropo in a category that has been exclusive for more than eight decades — a quiet, persistent kind of history, which, given what FanGraphs reported about his conversational style, seems about right.