DENVER – Sal Stewart may not be the Cincinnati Reds young All-Star with the $105 million contract extension – at least so far.
But the rookie slugger already has done something in less than four months that only five other rookies in franchise history have ever done in a season.
Stewart’s three-run home run in the second inning of the weekend’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies was his 20th home run of the season.
Combined with his 23 doubles, he became the sixth rookie in Reds history with a 20-HR, 20-double season – with 64 games left to play.
The list of the five others includes two MVPs*:
Stewart, 22, is on pace to become the first rookie in franchise history with 30 of each. The NL Rookie of the Year favorite also boosted his season RBI total to 70 with the homer, putting him second in the NL behind St. Louis’ Jordan Walker.
The biggest question left for him in the next few months is whether he and the club will decide a long-term contract extension makes sense like it did for his All-Star partner Chase Burns, who signed a seven-year, $105 million deal over the weekend.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Sal Stewart just joined elite company in Cincinnati Reds history
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
