Reds icon Joey Votto delivers timely defense that should boost Sal Stewart's ROY case

Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds and JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals have emerged as the top contenders for National League Rookie of the Year, with Stewart climbing from a preseason 4.7% chance to nearly tie Wetherholt's odds. Stewart's offensive numbers are superior, posting a .259/.333/.474 slash line with 27 home runs and 96 RBIs compared to Wetherholt's .243/.348/.373 with 16 home runs and 46 RBIs. The main reason Wetherholt maintains a slight edge is his higher WAR (4.4 versus 2.1), which heavily favors him due to positional value differences between second base and first base. Reds legend Joey Votto has argued that first base defense deserves more credit, particularly in receiving throws from infielders to convert outs, a specialized skill that significantly impacts team defense.

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