Sal Stewart's Silver Slugger case is enough to win NL ROY argument over JJ Wetherholt

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year Award over St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt, with Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin sidelined since late June. Stewart leads all of Major League Baseball in RBIs with over 100 and is a Silver Slugger finalist, while Wetherholt's offensive numbers hover around league average at .245/.347/.377 with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs. Stewart particularly excels with runners in scoring position, batting .321 with 81 RBIs and a 159 wRC+ in those situations, demonstrating his ability to drive in runs consistently. Wetherholt's elite defense and baserunning cannot overcome his offensive production gap compared to Stewart's dominant hitting performance.

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