Sal Stewart Fantasy Stats

Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is making the start at second base and will hit cleanup for the Reds for Saturday's ballgame against the hosting Minnesota Twins and right-hander Taj Bradley at Target Field, according to MLB.com. The slumping Matt McLain will get the day off after starting with a .183 average (13-for-71) in 20 games. With Stewart moving over to the keystone, the left-handed-hitting Nathaniel Lowe will draw into the starting lineup at first base. It remains to be seen if Stewart will play enough to gain eligibility at second base in 2026, but if he does, it would be another big boost to an already dynamic young slugger. The 22-year-old former first-rounder in 2022 has been one of the best hitters in baseball through the first couple of weeks of the 2026 season, as he enters Saturday's game in the Twin Cities with a .300/.405/.657 slash line, 1.062 OPS, seven home runs, 17 RBI, 14 runs scored, and even four stolen bases in 70 at-bats. Stewart has been a hot waiver-wire pickup and is now rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues.

Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is in the midst of a breakout season early on in 2026 in his first full year in the big leagues. In the team's 8-3 win over the visiting San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, Stewart went 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, six RBI, and a strikeout. Stewart hit two three-run home runs early in this game against Giants right-hander Tyler Mahle, and the Reds never looked back. It was Stewart's first multi-homer game of his career, and most likely the first of many to come. The 22-year-old former first-rounder in 2022 is hitting .323/.434/.726 with a 1.160 OPS, seven home runs, 17 RBI, three stolen bases, 13 runs scored, 13 walks, and 13 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances over his first 18 games in 2026. Stewart's seven home runs lead all rookie hitters, and he also leads the league with his .726 slugging percentage in the early going. His ownership in fantasy baseball has taken off since the start of the regular season, and he's now rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues.

Cincinnati Reds first-base prospect Sal Stewart has been swinging a hot bat to begin the 2026 season and enters Week 2 as a must-start first baseman in all formats. Over their opening series against the Boston Red Sox (three games), the former 32nd overall selection posted three straight multi-hit performances. He would finish the series going 7-for-10 with three doubles, one home run, and a 2:3 K:BB. The Red promoted Stewart during the back half of the 2025 campaign, and he enjoyed similar success, launching five home runs with a .838 OPS over his first 18 games in the majors. Through 118 games shared between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, Stewart carried a .309/.383/.524 line with 20 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Given his dominant start and elite minor-league track record, managers should continue to start Stewart with confidence across all formats.

Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart (forearm, wrist) is in the team's starting lineup on Saturday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Sonny Gray despite dealing with a sore forearm from being hit by a line drive on Opening Day on Thursday, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. He's starting at first base and batting in the cleanup spot. The 22-year-old came out of the gates strong on the plate on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles in the Opening Day loss to Boston. Between first base and designated hitter, Stewart should be a lineup regular for the Reds in his first full year in the majors in 2026, and he has plenty of slugging upside that will play in all fantasy formats, especially if he continues to hit in the heart of the batting order. The former first-rounder in 2022 went 14-for-55 (.255) with five home runs, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored in just 18 games last year in his big-league debut. Stewart is a big part of the Reds' future.

Cincinnati Reds first base prospect Sal Stewart went 3-for-4 on Opening Day with two doubles. Despite facing Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, Stewart filled the statsheet, hitting a double in his first at-bat against the Cy Young contender. Later in the contest, he would tally another hit off Crochet (a single) and would add his second double in the eighth inning. Stewart made his MLB debut late in the 2025 season and flashed high-end power during this short 18-game stint, hitting five round-trippers. During spring training, Stewart looked just as comfortable, carrying a .327/.450/.592 line with three home runs and four stolen bases over a 20-game sample. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to remain a key part of the starting nine, seeing time at first, second, and third base. He remains a high-end corner infielder with five-category upside going forward.

Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is starting at first base and is batting cleanup for the Reds on Opening Day on Thursday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and left-hander Garrett Crochet, per MLB.com. Stewart has never faced Crochet in his career and will make for a tough sell in DFS lineups against one of the more dominant lefty arms in the game. Long-term, though, the 22-year-old former first-rounder in 2022 is a rising young power bat in fantasy baseball in the heart of what should be a pretty productive lineup. Stewart posted a 1.042 OPS, .327/.450/.592 slash line, three home runs, eight RBI, 11 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 20 Cactus League games for the Reds this spring and has breakout potential in Cincy in his first full MLB season as a regular. In 18 games in his big-league debut in 2025, Stewart went 14-for-55 (.255) with five long balls and eight RBI.

Cincinnati Reds corner infield prospect Sal Stewart could be one of the few young players whom veteran Reds manager Terry Francona entrusts to regularly bat in the cleanup spot, speculates Reds beat writer Charlie Goldsmith. The 22-year-old Stewart made his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .253/.295/.543 with five home runs in just 58 plate appearances. It appears the team is planning for him to play a prominent role in 2026, and he turned heads by hitting .333 with three home runs and four stolen bases across 54 Cactus League plate appearances this spring. Stewart seems likely to open the year as Cincinnati's starting first baseman, although he could also rotate through designated hitter with Reds veterans Eugenio Suarez and Spencer Steer. If Stewart can stick in the middle of the Cincinnati lineup, he could provide positive value across all five categories for fantasy managers in 2026.

Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart has continued to play at an elite level during spring training and appears ticketed for a major role during his first full MLB season. Through 13 spring games, the team's top infield prospect has held a dominant .355/.487/.613 line with two home runs and four stolen bases. This is an excellent sign for Stewart as he looked just as comfortable during his first taste of MLB action last summer. Over his first 18 games in Cincinnati, Stewart held a .255/.293/.545 line with five long balls. Earlier in the campaign, Stewart hit 10 home runs while swiping four bags across a brief 38-game stint at Triple-A, showcasing his five-category upside. Given Stewart's ability to play at several positions, he carries elite breakout appeal heading into the 2026 season, as he should have an everyday role in the offense.

Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart has flashed high power upside over his first taste of spring training games. The team's No. 1 prospect has posted an elite .429/.529/.929 line with one double and two long balls over just six games. He trails only infielder Matt McLain for the team lead in spring training home runs. Stewart earned a taste of the majors later in the second half of last season and held his own, carrying a .255/.293/.545 line with one double and five home runs over a brief 18-game stint. Earlier in the campaign, Stewart launched 20 home runs over a 118-game stint between Double-A and Triple-A. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to carve out an everyday role in the Cincinnati offense, seeing time at several infield positions. He is a prime breakout candidate in drafts as he possesses elite power upside with the potential to chip in double-digit stolen bases.

Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is playing second base and batting cleanup in the team's first Spring Training matchup of 2026 on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians. Stewart, who made his Major League debut as a 21-year-old in 2025, played both corner infield spots in his first stint with the Reds. However, it appears as though the team is shifting him to the right side of the infield heading into 2026, as he's reportedly taken reps at both first and second base so far this spring. The Reds have Matt McLain locked in as the everyday second baseman, but McLain has dealt with injuries throughout his MLB career. Stewart could eventually settle in as the team's regular first baseman, but Cincinnati also has veteran first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer to work into the lineup. Still, Stewart's positional versatility should help him get regular playing time, even if it's spread across multiple positions. He currently ranks as RotoBaller's #22 fantasy first baseman and carries an average draft position of pick 207.