After the game, Stewart said he was simply looking for a hittable pitch and was pleased with the day and the team’s performance. “I was just looking for a pitch that I could hit, trying to put together a good at-bat. Worked to my favor. I’m happy with the day. I’m happy that our team won and happy that we’re keeping this thing rolling.”
In the seventh, Stewart added to his night by ripping a double, swiping third, and scoring on Trevor Martin’s wild pitch, underscoring his willingness to take extra bases to help the offense. “I saw the opportunity there. I’m always a proponent of trying to take the extra base. It gives our team a better chance to win,” he said.
Stewart’s early-season impact has elevated him as a leading contender in the NL Rookie of the Year race. After 23 games he owns a .289/.388/.639 line with eight home runs and five stolen bases, and betting markets list him as the favorite to win NL ROY at +150. MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince lauded him as the early front-runner, noting the loud impact of his performance.
Despite Stewart’s breakout, Cincinnati’s offense has struggled at times. Per Fangraphs, the Reds rank among the league’s weakest units offensively this season, a situation many analysts attribute in part to bad luck reflected in their BABIP metrics. Teammates like Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson are making hard contact, with Steer posting a high barrel rate and Stephenson posting elite exit velocity, though those results haven’t consistently translated into hits.
While the offense has faced challenges, Stewart remains a standout spark for a Reds club that started 15-6. His early production and all-around impact have solidified him as the focal point of Cincinnati’s early-season success and a key figure to watch as the campaign unfolds.
