This Sal Stewart stat shows Reds rookie is actually one of MLB’s best hitters already originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Sal Stewart was expected to hit for power in the major leagues.
The Cincinnati Reds rookie is doing it in a way that’s even more impressive than anyone expected.
Many young power hitters are really good to their pull side.
Stewart? He’s good every direction.
This stat below shows that he’s among the league’s best in driving the ball up the middle and the other way:
Sal Stewart total bases this season:
Pull side: 11 (t-174th)⁰Center: 19 (t-most)⁰Oppo: 23 (t-most)⁰Overall: 53 (t-3rd)
His spray chart is a piece of art. pic.twitter.com/QTyAhvOLMb
— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) April 21, 2026
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This is massive for the Reds on so many levels — one of which is simply the fact that they seem to have finally added a potent bat to the heart of a batting order that so desperately needed one.
But it’s also big for Stewart on an individual level. Most rookie hitters eventually reveal a hole in their swing that veteran pitchers begin to take advantage of.
While Stewart could certainly still have weaknesses, his ability to drive the ball to all fields removes many of the potential ways to beat him.
If you pitch him away, he’ll go that way with authority. In? He can hit that, too.
It’s going to continue to be hard to get Stewart out, as long as he maintains this well-rounded approach in the box.