Cincinnati Reds rookie infielder Sal Stewart has been named the National League Rookie of the Month for April. Even though it’s for April, it does include the first five games of the season that took place in March.
Stewart played in 31 games during through the end of April and he hit for a .281 batting average, had a .373 on-base percentage, and had a .570 slugging percentage. He had 32 hits with six of those being doubles and nine of them flying over the fence for home runs. Stewart had 29 runs batted in, which not only topped the rookie charts but it was the most in the league at the time. Not known for his speed, Stewart was savvy enough with his decisions to go 7-for-7 in stolen base chances, too. He has long been known for his understanding of the strikezone and that showed up well as he had 18 walks and 24 strikeouts in 134 plate appearances.
When all was said and done for the month, Stewart truly stood out among his peers. He led the rookies in RBI with 29. The rookie with the second most? That was a 3-way tie with guys who had 16. Stewart had driven in 81% more than the next closest player. He was leading National League rookies in home runs with nine. His 32 hits were tops on the list for rookies. The six doubles he had? Yep, those were also on top in a 3-way tie with two others. Stewart’s 18 walks? You guessed it – the best in the group. His 15 extra-base hits? The best. His seven steals? Also on top. He was also among the top three players in run scored, OPS, slugging percentage, and batting average.
They don’t give out the vote totals for these kinds of awards, but it’s tough to understand how any other offensive player could have gotten a vote. There’s a chance that New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean could have gotten some votes as he had a 2.55 ERA in 35.1 innings to go along with 10 walks and 45 strikeouts. That was quite the performance in itself, but Stewart is the one who is going to get a plaque to hang up on his wall.
Seen this on “Athletic Windup”:
“How are they winning without scoring runs,” we all asked, bewildered. It’s not a full collapse yet, but walking seven hitters in a row on Saturday and being swept by the Pirates did feel ominous. They’re now two games behind the Cubs, at 20-14.
Hopefully Sal snaps out of his current funk and makes a run at NL Rookie of the Month for May, too.
Awesome. Now leave him at first base and find other ways to fix the problems at second and third.
This is a correct opinion.
No kidding.
Concur
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Sal’s recent offensive struggles coincide with him beginning to move around the diamond?
The big problem is we need to get Lowe’s bat into the lineup, but he can only play one position, which happens to be the same position Sal plays. For now we can stick Lowe at DH, but what happens when Geno comes back?
Sal is the 1B of the future, and he needs to play there. But it’s going to be tricky to do that and also get Lowe and Geno in the lineup consistently, unless Hayes becomes a very expensive late-inning defensive replacement.
Before someone else chimes in with a resounding yes, I will come in and say no.
Yes, Sal has played around the field the last four games in which he’s gone 0-fer.
But there’s nothing there. From April 7th through the 19th he made three starts at third, two at second, and seven at first. He hit five home runs and a double during that time.
+5,000
Anecdotal … but the facts do seem to suggest that could be the case or at least a contributing factor.
Withdrawn … Doug’s facts are for more factual than what my mind is remembering.
Thanks, Doug … +25,000 for you.
Mark… where do I cash in these points? Does Charles Entertainment Cheese accept them? I’ve been eying that RC truck for three years now.
Before Doug responded, it was my opinion that why not try him at spots that are dead offensively…which is 2B and 3B?
We all know even the best major league hitters have slumps. The important thing is to learn how to manage himself through the process of getting out of one. From ROM to 0-19 (I think that’s what I read) he’s experiencing quite a hi/low swing. Expect him to snap out of it soon. I do wonder if moving him around the diamond is affecting him at the plate – maybe keep him @ 1B/DH until he breaks the slump.
Tony Perez batted .400 in the month of April, 1970, and hit 10 HR. The season started (Opening Day) in early April, not in late March as it does now, so fewer games played before the end of April.
He was still batting .363 at the All Star Break. Ended the year batting .317, I think. With 40 HR, 129 RBI’s. If Sal even comes close to that, I would call it a BIG win for the Reds.
Definitely stop playing him at second. But I prefer to see him primarily at third, with the occasional appearance at first, as needed. Lowe and Steer can cover first otherwise. Hayes can be a defensive replacement with occasional starts…or traded with a prospect and money for nothing in return…mostly kidding there.
Why doesn’t steer start at 2B ? Wasn’t he brought up as a 2B? I think he’s too short for 1B and not a particularly good outfielder. Versatility is a real plus and everyone goes through a slump. But an occasional rest or DH could be refreshing when you’re pressing too much at the plate. Did we not learn from EDLC fatigue last summer?
Yes here too
Great for Sal, but he’s in a hitting slump right now. You can’t expect him to hit .350 the rest of the year, and hit 50 HR. They do need to get Geno Suarez back.
Geno can play 3rd most of the time, and Lowe is the DH.
I see they sent Rece Hinds down, and recalled Dunn. Not sure about that move, but it is another musical chairs move in the outfield.
Who goes when Geno comes off the DL?
The Reds need to win at least one game, maybe two, in Chicago.
The team is in a real funk right now. Or maybe they are just regressing to the actual talent that they have. I have no idea yet, in my own little head.
I can’t speak for them all, but every game I can recall this season where the temp/wind chill was in the 30’s, has not been their best baseball.
Minnesota and now Pittsburgh. A lot of south of the equator, west coast, and southern guys may just be miserable in the cold. None of them looked that jazzed.
Only other evidence of this…Williamson learned to pitch in MN and did pretty well.
Congrats to Stewart, though…a month of being the best amongst your peers is a high honor!
I’m pretty sure the Reds swept in Minnesota. The Pirates, like the Brewers, have had their number. Think they need to at least split with the Cubs to get back on track.
Has anyone heard any news concerning Geno?
Even with the slump Stewart a great start. He was basically hitting like Aaron Judge there for about 25 games.
My concern is how much of the Reds great start was mostly because of Stewart? If he is just kind of average do the Reds kind of play .500 or below ball the rest of the way? Do they need a dominant Stewart to be pretty good?
I’m hoping the Reds just match up badly to the Pirates. Cubs series will be interesting. Splitting the series would be quite an accomplishment. Even winning 1 without getting blown out in losses would keep my hope. Getting swept though, I’d begin to think April was a bit if smoke and mirrors from the Reds.
Speed is a nice weapon to have.