Sal Stewart Can Help the Reds Win Now | Time to Call up the Top Prospect
The Cincinnati Reds are right in the mix to make the Wild Card, and top prospect Sal Stewart could be a bat that helps them get there.
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The Cincinnati Reds are in relatively unfamiliar territory – playing competitive baseball into late August. The last time they were in this position, just a few years back, they faltered down the stretch and missed the playoffs adding to the long list of disappointing season in recent history.
However, this team is different. The Reds rotation is truly one of the best we have seen in some time and once Chase Burns returns, watch out. They are pitching to a level that makes them a scary matchup for any team in October, but getting to the playoffs is step one.
In order to do so, the Reds need a boost to the lineup. A team with so many solid, but not spectacular, players could use a spark. Something to show the players the team isn’t comfortable with staying average. Someone who not only offers power, but also an above average feel to hit. Someone like Sal Stewart.
Stewart, the Reds 32nd overall selection in the 2022 draft, has done nothing but hit since joining the system. A plus hit tool with room to grow into power has made him Just Baseball’s No. 59 overall prospect and an option for the Reds to turn to down the stretch to lift the offense.
Stewart’s Offensive Ability
Stewart’s bat is what makes him such a promising prospect. Across Double and Triple-A this season he is slashing .308/.382/.515 with 17 home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a 150 wRC+. After and promising start in Double-A to open the season, Stewart was promoted to Triple-A Louisville where he has been even better.
In only 29 games, Stewart has already posted seven home runs, three less than he did in Double-A where he played 80 games. Part of that is due to Chattanooga and the entire Southern League being a challenging hitting environment, but I think part is also due to Stewart knowing he’s knocking on the door to a promotion.
His feel to hit and relatively low whiff rates lead me to believe that Stewart could help the Reds immediately. He comes with a somewhat compact and fluid swing without much added motion or red flags that might hamper him once he reaches the big league level.
If nothing else, Stewart is going to make more contact than some of the options the Reds have run out this season. The power is still developing and not quiet where you would want it just yet, but the small sample size and plus exit velocities he has shown in Louisville could truly be Stewart turning a corner.
Since Terry Francona took over the Reds have leaned into a more contact-oriented approach which has sucked much of the power out of this team. Stewart can play that type of game, but also has the power that could could click and help the Reds rack up extra-base hits.
The bar for power output is pretty low when you consider Ke’Bryan Hayes, Gavin Lux, TJ Friedl, and Santiago Espinal receive regular at-bats.
Breaking balls could give him a bit of trouble initially, but I am confident that he will handle velocity. His eye for the zone and plate coverage are advanced enough that I do not think he will sink like we have seen at times with other prospects the Reds have turned to in recent years.
We are not talking about a Will Benson or Reece Hinds type of promotion. One where you cross your fingers and hope the swing connects, but often it doesn’t.
We are talking about a much more complete hitter who has handled each level with relative ease while also flashing much more than a solid baseline. A player who will be battle for pitchers in each at-bat.
Where Does Stewart Fit?
Finding a spot for Stewart in this lineup should not be a problem. A roster move, both on the active roster and on the 40-man, would be needed. A simple DFA to Connor Joe and demotion for Matt McLain would get the job done.
McLain has struggled to the point of needing a reset in Louisville. He has posted a .521 OPS over the past month and has yet to breach a .660 OPS in any month this season. Allowing him to (hopefully) find his stroke in Louisville would allow the Reds to have him prepared, if needed, come October. Although my confidence is at an all-time low in McLain.
You could simply put Stewart at second, but here’s the catch. His defense is not up to par. He does not have the swiftest of feet and his range is less than you would like. I ultimately think, long term, he ends up at first or left, but for now he can DH or slide to first, moving Steer/Lux to second or Steer to the bench.
Steer has been hitting much better as of late, so you might need to do some musical chairs. Keeping his bat in the lineup for now but if he returns to his below average offensive output Stewart can be an immediate fall back option.
Andujar to the outfield and Stewart to DH works as well. It might mean less playing time for Austin Hays, who has been trending downward for two months straight and is better served as a short-side platoon option.
The lineup is very righty-heavy, which is why I actually think Will Benson should stick around. Sure, he’s a frustrating player at times and Francona doesn’t seem to care for him, but having a guy who can leave the yard on your bench, and play center, is valuable.
The Reds will just have to be okay with being righty heavy because that is the way the roster was constructed and there’s not much they can do about it now.
Bottom line, this team has found at-bats for a number of below average players so I doubt they will struggle to get Stewart in the lineup. We are in late August and have run out of time for hoping certain players can turn it around or believing in every week long stretch. Each game matters too much and if it means not playing a former highly rated prospect or established name so be it.
Final Thoughts
The Reds are about what their record shows. A slightly above average team. At no point have they really shown they are anything more than pretty good. However, they are in a position to earn a playoff spot and that requires an aggressive move with a high upside player.
We all know what these players are. How much confidence do you have in many of them turning the dial up and performing at a higher level than we have seen throughout the season, or years prior?
To me, it is obvious the team needs someone who has a chance to be something more and I believe Stewart could be just that.
In order for him to be on the playoff roster, if the Reds get there, he will need to be added to the 40-man before September 1. The roster moves are simple and Stewart has earned a chance to help give the Reds their best chance to make a run. Cincinnati needs their best 26 players and I see Stewart as one of them.
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