Manny Machado predicted Sal Stewart's breakout 2026 season before Opening Day, and the entirety of his prediction − that Stewart would win National League Rookie of the Year − is nearly fulfilled.
With a month to play in the MLB regular season, Stewart was the betting favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. But Machado, the San Diego Padres star, saw this coming from his protege long ago.
"I think it's been great," Machado said. "I think all the work he put in during the offseason to get to where he is now is definitely paying off. Losing weight. Learning a new position. He did all the things that the team kinda needed, and to see it unfold and seeing it live, I think, has been pretty good to watch."
Stewart isn't just among the best of
the qualifying rookies. Some of his statistics were among the best in baseball, period. Entering play on Sept. 1, his 31 homers ranked fifth in the game, and his 105 RBI were tops in MLB.
At this rate, Stewart's name seems increasingly likely to be submitted down-ballot on some NL Most Valuable Player ballots. And no, Machado isn't surprised by what his understudy has accomplished.
For most of the summer, Stewart's Rookie of the Year candidacy was cast against that of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman, JJ Wetherholt. But Wetherholt landed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 30 − cruel timing given that postseason awards talk was heating up. The NL Rookie of the Year race in particular was provoking some of the most heated debating.
Prior to the injury, Wetherholt was seen as the favorite for the award in some corners of the baseball world. At issue in the comparison between Stewart and Wetherholt was the contrast in traditional counting stats, where Stewart had the edge, and Wetherholt's formidable WAR advantage via his defensive prowess.
Asked about that head-to-head comparison, Machado praised both players but ultimately threw his support behind Stewart's
"It's two good players who both have promising futures for this game. It's going to be fun watching them go to battle head-to-head, and especially in the same division and everything like that," Machado said. "I mean, the numbers speak for themselves. Thirty (home runs) and 100 (RBI) as a rookie? When's the last time we saw that happen? So, that speaks for itself."
With Wetherholt's Rookie of the Year bid sidetracked by his injury, a New York Mets duo − outfielder Carson Benge and pitcher Nolan McLean − held a more prominent place in Rookie of the Year talk, but Stewart was generally still seen as the frontrunner.
Not surprisingly, Stewart's Reds teammates and coaches support his Rookie of the Year bona fides, too.
"I mean there’s a whole month to go. Obviously I’m rooting for him," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "He’s just a very good hitter. He’s very competitive. He doesn’t give at-bats away, and with two strikes he becomes probably sometimes more dangerous."
Pitcher Chase Burns said he reminds Stewart daily of the caliber of season he's having.
"He’s incredible. He’s ridiculous," Burns said. "I tell him every day. He just plays the game with passion, and he’s electric. And he’s going to play the game for a long time."
Asked about the possibility of the Rookie of the Year honor in August, Stewart said it was something he wanted. He also said it wouldn't define his 2026 season.
In the moment, Stewart's pursuit of the Rookie of the Year award has brought excitement to a Reds season that drifted off course, and away from the postseason. By season's end, and with of without Stewart in possession of the honor, attention will turn back to his growth as a player.
Stewart receiving the award and therefore punctuating his outstanding 2026 season would appropriately mark the moment for the individual. Using the 2026 season as a springboard to continued and greater success could be even more meaningful, and Machado said the 22-year-old Stewart hasn't yet maximized his full potential.
"I think he's got a lot to learn. I think he's still a little kid, you know? Still got a lot to learn," Machado said. "This game is all about making adjustments and the good thing is that he's been making good adjustments throughout the year. He's still got a lot of good baseball ahead of him."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Manny Machado's prediction for Sal Stewart closer to fruition
