The Cincinnati Reds’ promising rookie infielder has made a strong impression, captivating not just the fanbase but also earning accolades from his teammates, the coaching staff, and the broadcast team alike.
During an appearance on the Power Stacks Podcast, Reds announcer Jeff Brantley, affectionately known as The Cowboy, offered immense praise for Stewart, articulating his admiration in his signature style.
“I’ll say this with Sal,” Brantley said. “He would really piss me off if I was a pitcher. I’ll be honest with you. He would. He would really make me mad. And that is the best compliment that I could give that kid because he fights for it, he wants it, his energy is so high.”
“The thing that I love about that kid that nobody notices yet, but they will, the pitchers will, he hits different with runners in scoring position, he hits different late in the ballgame with nobody on and you need a home run, and he hits different when he has a runner at third and he hits different when he has a runner at third and two outs when he’s got to get a hit. And when you can change your swing like that and still be really good, that would piss me off.”
During spring training, Stewart showcased an impressive slash line of .326/.456/.609, complemented by seven extra-base hits. Across 19 games, he also successfully stole four bases.
Terry Francona’s High Regard for the Rookie
Just recently, Terry Francona explored the possibility of positioning Stewart fourth in the batting order, following Elly De La Cruz and ahead of Eugenio Suarez, who would bat fifth.
“We’ll see,” Francona told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon earlier this week. “I kind of reserve the right to make a lineup out that day. The reason we’ve been doing it is I think it sets Geno up to drive in more runs. Because I think with Elly hitting third, we can separate some strikeouts. But we also have a guy that can trail Elly, and I think Geno can clean up some of the mess there, which is the idea. I think it has a chance to be more productive for us.”
Regardless of his spot in the lineup, one truth about Stewart is undeniable: he possesses unwavering confidence, always approaching the plate with the conviction that he’s the top player on the field.
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