Imagine a young baseball phenom staring down his own reflection, determined to reshape not just his body, but his entire career trajectory—that's the bold move Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is making this offseason, and it's got fans buzzing with excitement.
In 2025, Sal Stewart truly shone as one of the Reds' most promising talents. For those new to baseball's farm system, prospects like Stewart start in the minor leagues to hone their skills before reaching the majors. He kicked off the year in Double-A, the more advanced of the two lower minor league levels, where he dominated by leading the Southern League in batting average—a key stat measuring how often a player gets a hit. This standout performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A, the highest minor league tier and the closest proving ground to the big leagues, midway through the season. There, he absolutely erupted offensively, posting an impressive slash line of .315 batting average, .394 on-base percentage (which shows how often he reaches base via hits or walks), and .629 slugging percentage (indicating his power through extra-base hits) over 38 games. For beginners, think of this as him turning into a hitting machine, combining consistency with serious pop.
That hot streak paved the way for a well-deserved call-up to the Major Leagues in the season's final month. In his debut stint of 18 games with the Reds, Stewart batted .253, got on base at a .293 clip, and slugged .545, while smashing five home runs. All told, across 136 games in both the minors and majors, he belted 25 homers—a solid power output that highlighted his raw strength. The team was starving for that kind of thunder from the plate during the late stretch, and Stewart delivered it right when it mattered most. Sure, his major league average didn't match his minor league dominance, but remember, it was only a small sample size—just 18 games. One stellar outing could have flipped that narrative entirely, showing how quickly things can shift in the pros.
But here's where it gets really intriguing: despite this breakout year, which included snagging the Cincinnati Reds' Minor League Player of the Year award (check out the details here: https://www.redsminorleagues.com/2025/11/04/2025-cincinnati-reds-milb-player-of-the-year-sal-stewart/)—an honor given to the top performer across their entire farm system—and making his MLB debut, Stewart wasn't content to rest on his laurels. Appearing on the Reds Hot Stove League podcast this week (listen in: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/960-reds-hot-stove-league-20803716/episode/reds-hot-stove-league-12-24-25-314652923), he opened up about a major personal overhaul. Since the season wrapped, he's dropped a whopping 26 pounds.
"I had to take a hard look at myself and figure out what I needed to improve," Stewart shared candidly. "I realized that shedding some weight wouldn't just help me overall—it could open doors to playing first base or even second base more effectively." He stepped on the scale recently and confirmed he's down those 26 pounds from his post-season weight, a transformation that's taken serious dedication over the past two-and-a-half months.
And this is the part most people miss: Stewart sees this as more than just a numbers game on the scale. For infielders like him, who need quick reflexes and endurance to cover ground between bases, losing excess weight can mean feeling lighter on your feet, reducing injury risk, and boosting stamina—think of it like upgrading from heavy boots to sleek running shoes on the field. "I knew I had to tweak my lifestyle, and I went all in," he explained. "This is going to elevate my game in so many ways. My target is to keep dropping down—I'm hovering around 25 pounds lost right now, though it fluctuates a bit—but I feel amazing. Lighter, quicker, more agile. I'm thrilled with my progress, but I'm not stopping here. I want to keep refining my physique because my dream is to become a superstar in this league. It's not about talking the talk; it's about walking the walk. Right now, I'm pumped about where I am and can't wait to hit spring training."
Now, let's stir the pot a little: in a sport where power hitters often bulk up to launch more homers, is Stewart's choice to slim down a risky bet that might sap his strength, or is it the smart, modern path to versatility in today's game? Some might argue that extra muscle is king for long-term success, while others see agility as the future edge. What do you think—does trimming down like this guarantee stardom, or could it backfire for a power guy like him? Drop your takes in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you're Team Lean Machine or Team Bulk Up!
