6-time All-Star says Reds prospect is 'a BEAST'
Mark Sheldon
@m_sheldonThis story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart is working his way through his first big league Spring Training camp, but has been apprenticing among Major Leaguers since he was early in his teens. Stewart has learned not just about hitting, but work ethic, hustling, fielding and more.
A Miami native, the 21-year-old Stewart is close friends with another South Floridian who happens to be a baseball superstar in Padres third baseman Manny Machado. The two work out together during offseasons.
¡°I will never forget the privilege it is to work with him," said Stewart, who enters 2025 ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 84 overall prospect. "I consider him one of my best friends, like an older brother to me. He¡¯ll give me the tough love that I need, and he¡¯ll tell me when I¡¯m right and he¡¯ll tell me when I¡¯m wrong. He¡¯s my everything in my life.¡±
Stewart and Machado -- who were introduced by former Reds player Yonder Alonso -- train five days a week, Monday through Friday, to work out, hit and throw over the winter.
Machado, a six-time All-Star over his 13 seasons, had no shortage of praise back for Stewart, the 32nd overall selection by Cincinnati in the 2022 Draft.
"Hell yeah, that¡¯s my protege. I¡¯ve been training with him for like eight years," Machado said. "He¡¯s the best hitter in the Minor Leagues, absolutely. I haven¡¯t seen all of them obviously. And I know him personally. But I know swings."
In 80 games for High-A Dayton last season, Stewart batted .279/.391/.454 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs. His season was cut short in July because of a right wrist laceration from a slip and fall away from the ballpark that cost him the rest of the year.
For a young player, Stewart is highly disciplined at the plate. In 2023 with Single-A Daytona, he walked more times (66) than he struck out (59). It was nearly a 1-to-1 ratio in 2024 with 50 walks and 57 strikeouts.
"He hits the ball to right field like a lefty. He¡¯s got a really good swing," Machado said. "He can pull the ball, hit for average. And it¡¯s not only that he has a good swing, his on-base is through the roof, something I can¡¯t do. He takes his walks. He has a good eye, good awareness of the plate."
Stewart has been trying to prove he can be an all-around player. In the field at camp, he has looked really comfortable for a guy who lacks a reputation for defense.
Recently on the dirt of a short practice infield taking ground balls hit from coach Brad Mills' fungo bat, Stewart was picking them all cleanly with quick hands and surprising agility.
¡°Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, for sure," Stewart said. "But I think people kind of speak before watching or they have a pre-judgement of what they think. I know who I am as a defender. I know what I do. I prepare hard, I work and I do whatever it takes in the offseason so when defense comes, I¡¯m ready to go. Everyone can say what they want, but what matters is what my manager says, it matters what my organization says.¡±
On a different day while manning second base, a position he added in 2023, Stewart also looked fluid as infielders practiced double plays. Over 36 starts at second base and 33 at third base last season for Dayton, Stewart made a combined eight errors.
"He¡¯s probably not what you would call an athlete in the more traditional sense or straight-line sprinting. But he is baseball-player athletic," Reds player development director Jeremy Farrell said. "Over the last couple of years since being introduced to second base as well as the third base he¡¯s played, he¡¯s worked so hard at it to make both spots viable options at this point.¡±
That wouldn't surprise Machado.
"He¡¯s a beast. He works his [butt] off," Machado said. "Great kid, great family, loves the game. He¡¯s a kid, obviously, still young, but man, he¡¯s going to be special. He¡¯s going to be a big leaguer."
In the meantime, Stewart is looking forward to moving up to Double-A Chattanooga this season.
¡°I know the game speeds up," he said. "I¡¯m looking forward to the challenge. When you play in the big leagues, the game will be as fast as it ever will be. This will be a nice step for me but I hope I go there ready to play and give the organization that message of whenever you need me, I will be ready to go.¡±