PHILADELPHIA – One of Sal Stewart’s best friends has been to seven of these things, including last year, during a superstar career that may one day lead to the Hall of Fame.
So when Stewart, the National League Rookie of the Year favorite from the Cincinnati Reds, arrived for his first career All-Star Game in his first full season in the majors, it must have seemed very strange to see no sign of Manny Machado in the vicinity of All-Star festivities.
“No, not at all,” said Stewart, who grew up in Miami, joining Machado’s workout group of pro ballplayers as he came of age and evolved into one of the game’s top hitting prospects.
“He’s super happy for me, and he’s super proud of me,” said Stewart, stayed with Machado last September when the Reds played Machado’s Padres in San Diego – a week after Stewart’s debut. “I know he’s cheering me on. And he’s going to have a second half that people are gonna realize that he’s still who he is.”
Meanwhile, it’s the young Stewart representing this time around for that Miami crew – one of a whopping 36 first-time All-Stars selected for this year’s midsummer classic, which takes place at 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park.
As seasoned and mature as Stewart has looked since getting to the big leagues, which might have a lot to do with the influence of Machado and Co. during his formative years, his head was on a swivel when he got to Philadelphia for this one.
“It’s been amazing being around all these great players,” said Stewart, 22. “It’s a privilege for me to learn from them and just take it in. It’s been incredible.
“I was telling (Bryce) Harper when we were playing him (and the Phillies), like, ‘Man, this is going to be such a cool experience. I’ve watched you play’ – and a bunch of these guys.
“I’m super excited to be here.”
Stewart, who’s hitting .256 with an .812 OPS, leads the Reds in home runs (19), doubles (22), walks (45) and RBIs (65).
Just ahead of Stewart’s and teammate Chase Burns’ selections through the players’ ballot, Reds manager Terry Francona suggested one of the values of a first-time selection is that a player often comes back from that experience with a greater sense of belonging in the majors.
“Definitely,” said Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott, a first-time All-Star last season. “That’s a good way to describe it. It’s more like you’re proven.”
Stewart’s Rookie of the Month award for April, with an NL Player of the Week award thrown into that stretch, probably showed that much in the early going this season.
Stewart already showed up to the big leagues with plenty of confidence.
If there’s anything about this first selection that adds to that, it’s this: “It means a lot more to me that the players picked me,” he said. “It makes me feel like the players, like, respected my season so far. That means a lot.
“Obviously, being an All-Star is incredible. It’s a nice feeling knowing that my peers think I had a good year.”
As for what he anticipated heading into game day, “I’ll probably black out a few times,” he said. “It’s going to be a cool experience for me and my family and obviously for me and Chase.
“There’s going to be so many Hall of Famers on this field. I’ve just been trying to talk to everybody, just pick the brains of everybody. I’m just trying to learn.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What brings Reds rookie Sal Stewart most pride as first-time All-Star
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
