Sal Stewart, the world’s greatest hitter of baseballs

CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 28: Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sal Stewart hit 5 homers for the Cincinnati Reds once called upon for the stretch run of the 2025 season, and he backed it up with a pair of hits (and 4 RBI) in Cincinnati’s brief postseason play against the Los Angeles Dodgers. People saw him.

People became aware of him. The brash rookie in Cincinnati looked ‘ready’ to be a big leaguer, but none of it shot him up to the elite echelon of Top 100 prospect lists, or anything. After how last season ended, people thought he was a big leaguer.

After the first weekend of the 2026 season, people are beginning to think he may alter the entire franchise’s direction. Sal eyed up a Boston Red Sox pitching staff that had been revamped with elite arms all winter and mowed right through them with nary an overlooked PA. He went 7 for 10 with 3 doubles, a homer, 3 walks, and not a single strikeout as Cincinnati won 2 of 3 in Great American Ball Park, even putting his stamp on the ball on pitches that should have otherwise tied him up completely.

You see a swing like this from Sal Stewart and you understand why he's just an animal in the box. A pitch he muscles out of the yard that nearly jams him inside, and he still hits it 108. 6 MPH to center.