This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SAN FRANCISCO — Sal Stewart has racked up hits and has been a run-producing savant throughout the season, but will that be enough to nab the Reds' first baseman the National League Rookie of the Year Award?
Stewart has company with compelling cases. At the moment, it appears to be a three-way race among Stewart, Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt and Mets outfielder Carson Benge. A long shot is Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean after his strong second-half push.
“That gives you a really good understanding as to where our game is at," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said on Aug. 18, before his club played the Reds. "There’s a lot of good young players. The fact that there’s several in the mix is a really good thing for the game.”
Here's a look at the candidates.
Sal Stewart, 1B, Reds
.261/.334/.472
28 HRs, 100 RBIs, 75 runs, 12 stolen bases
fWAR: 2.3
bWAR: 1.9
Fielding run value: -3
Not only does the 22-year-old Stewart lead all NL rookies with his 28 homers, his 100 RBIs lead the Major Leagues overall. He could be the third rookie since 1920 to finish leading the Majors in RBIs, joining Ted Williams (144 in 1939) and Walt Dropo (144 in 1950). Stewart also leads NL rookies in extra-base hits and total bases, and is second in hits.
Stewart primarily plays first base, which isn't as highly valued in WAR calculations as other positions on the defensive side. But his versatility is a plus because Stewart also plays third base and second base.
“Obviously, I’m going to be very biased – as I should be," Reds manager Terry Francona said last week. "Sal’s leading the league in RBIs. That to me, I think that’s a stat that people don’t value as much anymore. I look up at that all the time, me and Freddie [Benavides, the bench coach], that WRC+ on the board. There’s a lot of players that have WRC’s higher than Sal. One guy had 19 RBIs. I don’t get it. There’s something to be said for a guy that’s got 13 stolen bases, 26 home runs and 90 RBIs. That’s pretty damn good.”
If Stewart does win the honor, he would be the Reds' first NL Rookie of the Year since second baseman Jonathan India in 2021.
JJ Wetherholt, 2B, Cardinals
.245/.348/.376
17 HRs, 48 RBIs, 88 runs, 14 stolen bases
fWAR: 4.5
bWAR: 4.8
Fielding run value: 21
Wetherholt, 23, leads NL rookies with 88 runs scored, with Stewart and Benge in second and third, respectively. Of the three, he has the better on-base percentage and the higher WAR. He also has been the St. Louis leadoff hitter the whole season and plays most of his games at a pitcher's ballpark in Busch Stadium.
What Wetherholt lacks in homers and RBIs he makes up for with elite defense at second base. He is ranked second in the NL for Statcast's fielding run value and 21 outs above average.
"He knows what gives him success," Marmol said. "He’s committed to it and that’s probably the last thing that comes to a young player, a real strong conviction behind that. He’s come into the big leagues with that, as secure as anybody I’ve seen. That allows him to play the game a certain way. He understands this is a process and never hits the panic button.”
It's been 25 years since the Cardinals had a Rookie of the Year. Their last to get it was Albert Pujols in 2001.
Carson Benge, OF, Mets
.281/.341/.429
16 HRs, 53 RBIs, 68 runs, 19 stolen bases
fWAR: 3.2
bWAR: 3.1
Fielding run value: 5
Benge has had quite a month of August to put himself into the Rookie of the Year conversation. He's also had multiple outfield assists and is second in the NL with nine for the season.
While the 23-year-old lacks the eyepopping numbers on offense or defense, Benge appears to be the most well-rounded of the three. He ranks third among NL rookies in homers and stolen bases and sixth in OPS.
“He’s a special guy,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said of Benge last weekend. “It’s a lot of fun watching him play baseball.”
The last Mets Rookie of the Year winner was Pete Alonso in 2019.
There's more at stake than just personal rewards for the winner. Because Stewart, Wetherholt and Benge were on their clubs' Opening Day rosters, all are eligible for the Prospect Promotion Incentive, which means the team can receive a bonus selection after the first round of the 2027 Draft.
With five weeks left in the regular season, there is plenty of time for the candidates to further their resumes before voters from the Baseball Writers' Association of America turn in their ballots.