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The Cincinnati Reds' offense would be significantly less potent without Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart, and both players have now been recognized as finalists for the Silver Slugger Award at their respective positions. The honor highlights their contributions to a Reds lineup that relied heavily on their production.
A rookie has taken home a Silver Slugger in each of the past four seasons, and Stewart has a chance to extend that streak to five. Meanwhile, the last Cincinnati player to win the award over a full season with the team was Nick Castellanos in 2021.
De La Cruz's Breakout Year
For De La Cruz, the 2026 campaign represented the most consistent and productive season of his young career, even though a hamstring injury sidelined him for nearly a month in May. The 24-year-old established career highs in home runs (30), walks, batting average (.283), on-base percentage (.365), slugging percentage (.515), and OPS (.880), while recording career lows in strikeouts and errors.
He elevated his game further in September, slashing .348/.437/.719 with nine home runs, six doubles, six stolen bases, and 19 RBI, earning National League Player of the Month honors. His performance down the stretch was MVP-caliber.
Stewart's Historic Rookie Campaign
Stewart authored one of the finest rookie seasons in Major League Baseball history. He opened the year with a flourish, hitting nine home runs, driving in 29 runs, and stealing seven bases to claim Rookie of the Month honors in April. Over the full season, he posted a .263 batting average, .787 OPS, 32 home runs, and 112 RBI.
He became the first Reds player to win Rookie of the Month twice in a single season, adding the award again in August, and was selected to the All-Star team. Stewart also became just the second rookie in MLB history to record a 30-home-run, 15-stolen-base season, joining Jose Canseco. He is only the fourth rookie ever to hit 30 or more home runs and drive in 110 or more runs at age 22 or younger, and the eighth rookie to appear in all 162 games in a season, starting 161 of them.
The Reds were able to draft Stewart in the 2022 MLB draft with a compensation pick in the first round after Nick Castellanos declined his qualifying offer in the 2021 offseason and signed with the Phillies.
Reds Silver Slugger History
The last Red to win the Silver Slugger was Castellanos in 2021. Brandon Drury won it in 2022 but was traded to the Padres midseason. Other Cincinnati winners include Jay Bruce (2012, 2013), Brandon Phillips (2011), Felipe Lopez (2005), Barry Larkin (nine times), Eric Davis (1987, 1989), Dave Parker (1985, 1986), Joe Morgan (1982), Dave Concepcion (1981, 1982), and George Foster (1981). The franchise has not had multiple winners in the same season since 1989, when Davis and Larkin both won.
Notably absent from that list is Joey Votto, who was a finalist four times (2010, 2012, 2017, 2021) but never won the award.