CHICAGO – With nearby teammates chanting “Roy,” Cincinnati Redsrookie Sal Stewartstood up to address the media and field yet another, perhaps obvious, question about his Rookie of the Year candidacy.
“I’ve already talked about it. I don’t want to keep talking about it,” he said, praising the other candidates. “Do I want to win it? Yes. If that’s your question. But I don’t want to keep bringing it back up. I want to focus on winning games. That’s not fair to these guys right here.”
Never mind the fact that it was “these guys” who brought it up in the first place on this day.
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Or the fact that Stewart’s going to be asked to do a lot more talking a lot more often about himself if and when his enormous hitting talent starts putting him in MVP races and adding a bunch more All-Star appearances to his career ledger.
For now, he’s the kind of player who teammates are more than willing to marvel at — still a week shy of the anniversary of last year’s big-league debut.
And the kind of player whose very loud bat does plenty of talking — including a 29th home run and two more RBIs to run his MLB-leading total to 102 during the Reds’ 10-8 victory over the Cubs in their weekend series opener at Wrigley Field.
“It’s incredible,” teammate Tyler Stephenson said. “It’s a hell of a first year and it’s been cool just to see him doing it every day. What, one homer away from 30? He’s been doing it all year. Any time guys are on, it’s like you know he’s going to get the job done.”
That’s the thing. That’s the stat.
In an era when analysts have dismissed the RBI as an important stat, those who have been around the game enough to know the difference continue to describe something different about players such as Stewart, who smell scoring chances and often adjust approach to hit the other way or increase their ability to put the ball in play if the game situation calls for it.
Certainly, putting up big RBI numbers requires teammates to get on base and create the opportunities. But some players also thrive even more in those moments than others.
“You gotta drive in runs to win the game. So that’s kudos to my teammates for being there and kudos to my hitting coaches for helping me every single day,” Stewart said. “I’m happy to be able to achieve that.”
If Stewart keeps this up, he’ll become only the third rookie in major league history to lead his league in that category, joining Ted Williams (1939) and Walt Dropo (1950).
More impressive, he'd do it with one of the lowest-scoring teams in the majors.
“It’s remarkable. If I had a vote, he’s the Rookie of the Year,” veteran closer Emilio Pagán said. “Obviously I’m biased.
“But he’s not just one of the best rookie hitters. He’s one of the best hitters in the league.”
And this: “He’s getting stronger going down the stretch,” Pagán said, “which is really hard for young players to do. You see it every year. A rookie will hit the proverbial wall in August or September. His at-bats just seep to be getting better.”
Not to mention his instinct for hunting an RBI.
Pagán compared Stewart to veteran teammates from his career such as Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Marcus Semien and Manny Machado.
“Sal is right up there with every one of those guys,” Pagán said.
In fact, Stewart’s average in what baseball-reference.com defined as high leverage situations was .337 entering the Cubs’ series, with eight of his home runs and a 1.035 OPS.
Everything else: .269 with the 20 other homers and .778 OPS.
“Especially in the day and age where on-base percentage is such a big deal, it’s impressive,” Pagán said of Stewart’s beyond-his-years feel for the game and what it takes to compete and make adjustments to win.
“To get get those RBIs, sometimes guys have to chase a little to drive in that run,” Pagán said.
To feel for the pitch he can handle to knock in the run from third if that’s what it takes to win.
“He’s got that,” Pagán said. “He’s got that sixth sense.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sal Stewart's 'remarkable' season reaches 29 homers, 102 RBIs in August
