The Cincinnati Reds are finally calling up Sal Stewart. According to multiple reports, the Reds plan to promote Stewart to the big leagues when roster expand on September 1. Cincinnati signaled their intentions on Sunday after outrighting Connor Joe off the 40-man roster to make room for their top prospect.
But why did the Reds wait so long? Stewart could've been called up weeks ago without affecting his rookie status for the 2026 season, so that's not the reason. There have been questions about his glove, but Cincinnati could've always hidden his defensive deficiencies by slotting him into the lineup as the designated hitter.