Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds infield prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 84 overall entering 2025, is giving fans and analysts alike a reason to believe the post-Votto era might not be so grim. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, the 21-year-old Floridian has spent Spring Training 2025 showing off a bat that’s equal parts disciplined and dangerous. Terry Francona, the Reds’ new skipper, didn’t mince words after Stewart’s first spring homer: “He’s going to be a good Major League hitter. Mark my words.” High praise from a guy who’s seen a few swings in his day.
The Road to Cincinnati
Born November 7, 2003, in Miami, Stewart grew up dominating at Westminster Christian High, where he hit .513 with eight homers as a senior in 2022. That earned him Florida’s Gatorade Player of the Year nod and a reputation as a contact machine with power potential. He committed to Vanderbilt but never played a college game—the Reds snagged him 32nd overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, signing him for $2.3 million. His pro debut was quiet (.224/.333/.306 over 35 games in 2022), but 2023 showed growth: .285/.389/.424 across Low-A and High-A, with eight homers and a 14.8% walk rate. In 2024, he split time between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga, posting a combined .270/.374/.405 with nine homers and a 15.2% walk rate—numbers that scream “future table-setter.”
Spring Training 2025: Small Sample, Big Statement
Stewart’s first big league camp has been a showcase of patience and pop. As of March 9, 2025, he’s 3-for-8 in Grapefruit League play—one homer, two doubles, three walks, and just one strikeout. That February 24 homer off the Dodgers wasn’t a cheapie; it was a no-doubter that had Francona grinning like a kid who just found a $20 bill. X posts from Reds beat writer Mark Sheldon note his “ uncanny ability to barrel balls,” while fans are already dreaming of him displacing Jonathan India. He’s not breaking camp with the big club—Double-A awaits—but this spring is a loud reminder he’s not far off.
By the Numbers
Stewart’s 2024 stat line across 119 games: .270 average, .374 OBP, .405 SLG, nine homers, 47 RBIs, and a 126 wRC+. His walk rate (15.2%) outpaced his strikeout rate (14.8%), a rare feat for a 20-year-old in Double-A. At High-A, he crushed lefties (.333/.429/.556), and his 90th-percentile exit velo hovered around 105 mph—solid, if not elite. Defensively, he’s a 50-grade glove at third (MLB Pipeline), with soft hands and a strong arm from his high school shortstop days, though he’s also logging reps at second base. Versatility? Check. Francona’s probably already plotting how to juggle him with Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain.
What Experts Might Miss
Stewart’s plate discipline isn’t just good—it’s borderline absurd. His 2024 chase rate was under 20%, per minor league data, putting him in the same conversation as big leaguers like Juan Soto. At 21, he’s younger than the average Double-A player by over two years, yet his approach is veteran-like. The power’s still developing—scouts see 15-20 homers max—but if he keeps squaring up balls like he did this spring, that ceiling might creep higher. Also, he’s a Miami kid who idolized Miguel Cabrera growing up. If he turns into half the hitter Miggy was, Reds fans will forgive the lack of a Votto sequel.
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