CINCINNATI -- As the Reds have scoured and searched for their offensive identity -- and more runs -- in the early going of the 2026 season, one player has been a consistent epicenter of production for the club. No one has provided more offense for Cincinnati this season than rookie first baseman Sal Stewart.
Stewart's early-season heater reached a new level in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Giants at Great American Ball Park that gave Cincinnati the first two games of the three-game series. The 22-year-old had two home runs and six RBIs after slugging a pair of three-run homers in the first two innings.
"He’s locked in. He’s a great hitter and he knows a lot," said shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who crushed his own homer to center field in the fourth inning that traveled a Statcast-projected 442 feet. "He knows the zone really well. He’s a hard worker. I like the way he’s been playing."
It's not just that Stewart is hitting homers. All three of his long balls in the past two nights -- and six of his seven overall this season -- have been hit to the opposite field by the right-handed cleanup hitter.
“That’s a good recipe, especially when you’re strong enough to get rewarded when you do it," manager Terry Francona said.
With Giants starter (and former Red) Tyler Mahle facing his old team for the first time since he departed in a 2022 trade, Cincinnati attacked quickly. With one out in the first inning, Stewart powered a 2-2 fastball over the right-center-field fence to give the Reds a 3-0 lead.
Eugenio Suárez followed and made it back-to-back long balls when he hit a 2-0 pitch out to right field. It was Suárez's third of the season and 192nd career homer with the Reds, surpassing Brandon Phillips for 12th on the franchise's all-time list.
Cincinnati's lead was 4-2 in the second inning when Mahle walked Matt McLain and De La Cruz. That set up Stewart, who lifted an 0-1 fastball to right-center field once again for another three-run homer.
“I would say don’t throw it over the plate, but he still hits balls not over the plate out, too. He’s a beast," said Reds starter Rhett Lowder, who pitched a career-high 6 2/3 innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
It was the first time Stewart produced a multihomer game. He's tied for second in the Major Leagues in homers (St. Louis' Jordan Walker leads with eight) and also ranks second in slugging percentage (.726) and third in OPS (1.160), all while hitting .323 in 18 games.
“I feel like I can try to be as complete as I can be when I’m using the whole field," Stewart said. "I try to stay gap-to-gap, right-center to left-center. I feel like that allows me, if I’m late, then I shoot it to right. If I’m early, I hook it to left. I’m happy I got a good pitch to hit. I stuck to my game plan. I was diligent in my game plan, and it paid off. I’m happy for that.”
Stewart's six RBIs are tied with De La Cruz for the second most by a Reds rookie since rookie records started being kept in 1958, trailing only Robin Jennings (seven on Aug. 31, 2001).
Since debuting in the big leagues last season on Sept. 1, Stewart has 12 home runs in 36 career games. That ranks second in Reds history through 36 games, trailing only Aristides Aquino, who hit 15 in his first 36 games from 2018-19.
For the Reds (11-7), they're 8-0 in games decided by two runs or fewer. They've also scored two runs or fewer in eight games -- but they have an MLB-best 5-3 record in those contests. They remain near the bottom of the league in runs (64), average (.207) and OPS (.650) as a team.
Stewart was on deck when De La Cruz's booming homer -- his sixth of the season -- made it an 8-2 game in the fourth inning.
“I thought that ball was never going to land. He’s special, man. It’s a treat to be able to hit behind him and play with him," Stewart said.
Getting some early separation from the Giants and keeping it was a welcomed change of pace for the Cincinnati dugout.
“That was really good," Francona said. "We haven’t had one yet, and I hope there’s more. A win’s a win, but it’s nice to have a little breathing room.”