The offensive hero of Monday night’s (June 16) 5-3 Cincinnati Reds win over the New York Mets was clearly Sal Stewart.
The 6-foot-1, 224-pound rookie and fan favorite delivered for the Great American Ball Park crowd, including the “Tarps Off’ bleacher fans, with a 2-for-3 night with four RBIs. Three of those came on a first-inning homer that travelled 410 feet at 107 mph.
Stewart trails JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals in terms of National League Rookie of the Year odds, in second place at +270 (Wetherholt is -110).
The home run was Stewart’s team-leading 14th of the season, with 10 of those coming in night games.
Big disparity in Sal Stewart at night compared to day games
Terry Francona will likely continue to play Stewart in the afternoon as he’s played in all 72 games for the Reds heading into their day matchup with the Mets June 17. That matches what 1948 Reds shortstop Virgil Stallcup did in his rookie campaign. Stallcup went on to play in a career-high 149 games that season.
However, Stewart is clearly more effective under the lights compared to when he sees his shadow.
After the June 16 contest, Stewart was hitting .296 at night with 10 homers and 38 RBIs in 152 plate appearances. During the day, he’s hitting only .195 with four homers and nine RBI in 118 plate appearances.
“I think he (Stewart) knows he’s a good hitter, and I don’t mean that like − I just think he knows he’s a good hitter, and you don’t get hits every day,” Reds manager Terry Francona said to the press crew, including The Enquirer’s Pat Brennan, June 16. “That’s part of what our message to him has been since Day 1 of spring training. ‘We also know you’re a good hitter. The days you don’t hit, help us win.’ And he’s taken to that.”
Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart by month
Stewart started the season on fire, hitting .563 in March, going 9-for-16 with a pair of home runs. He slipped in April to .235 but hit seven homers and drove in 26 runs. In May, he hit .240 with three round-trippers and eight RBIs and as of June 16, he was .212 in the month with two homers and 10 RBIs (four coming June 16).
Where does Sal Stewart hit best for Cincinnati Reds?
Stewart was at .252 with 14 homers and 47 RBIs going into the finale of the Mets series and also had 11 steals, tied for the team lead. He also hits .252 in Great American Ball Park. But the Miami, Florida native has flourished in his home state, hitting .357 in Marlins Park in Miami and .417 in St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Parks to avoid?
Stewart is currently 0-for-13 in Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.
Sal Stewart’s hitting from different positions
Stewart has been best as a designated hitter at .323. At first base, he’s hit .260 but has slammed 11 of his home runs. He’s hitting .230 at third base, but has struggled when playing second base, hitting just .158. Countwise, Stewart is best at 1-1, hitting .429 with three home runs. With a 3-2 count, he’s just at .194 but has hit two out of the park. He missed his lone swing at a 3-0 count.
Regardless of metrics, based on Francona’s comments, Stewart will be called upon in all conditions.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart must be a night owl
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
