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Reds’ Sal Stewart Takes Command of NL ROY Race
The 2026 NL Rookie of the Year Race: Sal Stewart vs. JJ Wetherholt Explained Simply
What’s Happening?
Imagine a big end-of-year award at school for the best new student. In Major League Baseball, that award is called the Rookie of the Year (officially the Jackie Robinson Award).
Right now, in the National League (one of the two big leagues), there are two main kids fighting for the trophy:
- Sal Stewart – a powerful first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds
- JJ Wetherholt – a slick-fielding second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals
Important: A third player, Konnor Griffin (Pittsburgh Pirates), was in the race but got hurt and had to sit out. That left just Stewart and Wetherholt.
Meet the Two Contenders
| Player | Team | Position | What He’s Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sal Stewart | Cincinnati Reds | First Base | Hitting the ball really hard and really far |
| JJ Wetherholt | St. Louis Cardinals | Second Base | Playing great defense and getting on base |
The "WAR" Argument (And Why It’s Confusing)
Cardinals fans love to talk about one specific stat: WAR (Wins Above Replacement).
ELI5: What is WAR?
Think of WAR like a "total value score." It tries to measure everything a player does—hitting, running, fielding—and boil it down to one number: "How many extra games did this player help his team win compared to a regular backup player?"
- Wetherholt’s WAR: 4.2 (bWAR) / 4.0 (fWAR) → Higher
- Stewart’s WAR: 1.7 (bWAR) / 1.9 (fWAR) → Lower
So on this one stat, Wetherholt looks better. But… WAR is just one way to measure value. And in almost every other hitting category, Stewart is winning.
Why Stewart Is Pulling Ahead (The Numbers Don’t Lie)
Since the calendar flipped to July, Stewart has gone on a tear. Here’s the head-to-head:
Season Totals (As of August)
| Stat | Sal Stewart (Reds) | JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals) | Who Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hits | More | Fewer | Stewart |
| Home Runs | More | Fewer | Stewart |
| Batting Average | Higher | Lower | Stewart |
| OPS (On-base + Slugging) | Higher | Lower | Stewart |
| RBI (Runs Batted In) | 85 | 41 | Stewart (2x more!) |
| Slugging % | .479* | .738* | See note below |
Heads up on Slugging %: The original article says Stewart’s slugging is .479 and Wetherholt’s is .738—but that would mean Wetherholt is slugging higher. This looks like a typo. The July stats below make much more sense (Stewart .514 vs Wetherholt .333). We’ll trust the recent numbers.
Since July 1 (The "Second Half" Surge)
| Stat | Stewart | Wetherholt |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Avg / On-base % / Slugging % | .248 / .314 / .514 | .211 / .323 / .333 |
| Home Runs | 8 | 4 |
| RBI | 27 | 7 |
| wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) | 114 | 90 |
ELI5: What is wRC+?
It’s a hitting score where 100 = average. Stewart’s 114 means 14% better than average. Wetherholt’s 90 means 10% worse than average.
Bottom line: Since July, Stewart has been crushing the ball, while Wetherholt has cooled off.
What the Experts Say
MLB.com asked 30 beat writers (reporters who follow teams daily) to vote for their top 5 rookies.
- Result: Dead heat! Stewart and Wetherholt got identical scores.
- This shows the race is super tight—but Stewart’s recent hot streak is making voters take notice.
The Historical "30/100 Club" – A Big Clue
Here’s a crazy stat: Only 9 rookies in MLB history have hit 30+ home runs AND driven in 100+ runs (RBI) in a single season.
- 8 of those 9 won Rookie of the Year.
- The only two who didn’t played before 1947 (the year the award was created)—and one was Ted Williams, a Hall of Famer!
If Stewart finishes with 30 HR and 100 RBI, history says he almost has to win.
What’s Next? The Head-to-Head Showdown
The schedule sets up perfectly for drama:
- 5 games left between the Reds and Cardinals.
- All 5 in Cincinnati (including a doubleheader—two games in one day!).
- These games are like a playoff series for the award.
If Stewart goes off in front of his home fans, voters will remember. If Wetherholt shines, he can steal the narrative back.
Summary
- Two rookies left standing: Sal Stewart (Reds) vs. JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals).
- WAR favors Wetherholt—but it’s just one metric.
- Almost every other hitting stat favors Stewart—especially RBI (85 vs 41) and power numbers.
- Since July, Stewart has been elite (114 wRC+), while Wetherholt has struggled (90 wRC+).
- Expert voters are split 50/50 right now.
- History is on Stewart’s side: Rookies with 30 HR / 100 RBI almost always win.
- Final test: 5 head-to-head games in Cincinnati this month.
FAQ
Q: What does "Rookie of the Year" actually mean?
A: It’s an award given to the best first-year player in each league (American and National). Voters are baseball writers who cover the teams.
Q: Why do Cardinals fans keep talking about WAR?
A: Because it’s the one major stat where Wetherholt leads. It measures overall value including defense, and Wetherholt plays a tough position (second base) very well.
Q: What’s a "slash line" like .248/.314/.514?
A: It’s shorthand for three stats: Batting Average / On-Base Percentage / Slugging Percentage. Higher is better for all three.
Q: Can a player win Rookie of the Year if his team is bad?
A: Yes! The award is for individual performance. But playing in meaningful games (like these Reds-Cardinals matchups) helps voters notice you.
Q: When is the winner announced?
A: Usually in mid-November, after the World Series ends.
Enjoy the stretch run—this is what baseball drama is all about!
