Reds Star Sal Stewart on Winning NL Rookie of the Year

Hey, Sal, of all the numbers you put up, and congratulations, by the way, the 30 home runs, 100 RBI, played every game, is there one number that when you look back at your rookie of the year and you kind of say, that's the one number I'm most proud of? Yeah, like I said on MLB Network, that 162 games played, you know, I owe it to myself and to my teammates to know that no matter if I'm sick, tired, sore, hurt, I'm going out there and trying to give them the best chance to win. So I feel that's more so for my teammates, that I have the best teammates in the world. I want them to know that, man, I'm out there working hard for them and they reciprocated to me. So this season didn't go the way we wanted, but I feel like if I want to be the player. I want to be for the organization. I feel like that's a good stepping stone to prove and to show everyone. I was in the minor leagues last year, but to show everybody, like, hey, I'm willing to do it. Everyone that comes up here better be willing to do it. Put your life on the line for your team. And I feel that will go a long way, and I feel like our season will turn out better next year. AL Rookie of the Year, congrats. It's been on your mind for a while. At what point of the year did you start to really think, or maybe it was in February, you had a pretty good idea that this was in your future? Hey, what's up Charlie? How you doing? Your Bengals looking good. They're playing well, man. Um. Man, honestly, obviously in the back of my head, I always knew that I could go achieve it if I just kept my head down and worked hard. But like I always told you guys the whole year, man, I really was focused on winning games. James. Um, The fans deserve it. The organization deserves it. So as much as I wanted to think about it, I really tried not to. So I can't give you a specific day. But I knew once I hit a certain point, I was like, all right, it's really time to get going and make this undeniable. I'll probably say about halfway through the year, I really told myself, all right, let's, after this break, let's get it going and let's make this undeniable. And then what was it like celebrating the night? What, Charlie? What was it like celebrating the night with your family? Oh, it's just getting... Hey Charlie, it's just getting started. I'm about to go out there right now. I almost forgot I had a Zoom call. I got Larry here telling me, hey man, I told you like 10 times, Larry's doing his job and I'm here making him look bad, you know? But I'm celebrating, it's just getting started. You might wake up tomorrow at 8 a.m. and I'm still going to be up partying, so I'll be enjoying it. Sal, you mentioned when we talked at spring training that, you know, you wrote Rookie of the Year in your room on a door, I believe, to kind of remind yourself every day about it. Why was this award something that was important to you and one that you wanted to make a goal for your rookie season? Yeah, because so many people doubted me. So many people didn't think I could. Um, and I love that, you know, my whole life I've been doubted. Even when I got drafted, I had people on, uh, MLB network saying I was a bad decision. He didn't have a hit ability. His power needed to come. His defense was bad. And I don't forget any of those things. I keep all the receipts for all the people that talk. So, uh, I just want to prove those people wrong. Show them that, man, you know what? You got me all wrong. So I'm a kid from Miami, uh, born and raised in Kendall. Uh, I want all these people, all these kids to know right in my, in Miami and in, in Broward Wherever they are in this area, they can be just like me. Go out and chase your dreams. I believe so. I'm trying to be that piece where little kids can look up and be like, I want to be just like him. So, um. I envisioned it. I knew what I could go after. I knew what I could achieve. Um, and That's what I just wanted to do. But man, my career is just getting started. I promise you guys that. I promise you this is just a stepping stone and there's more to come. So um, we've talked to you about this a lot during the season, but especially now looking back on it, What made it for you in those run scoring situations or run producing situations that seemed almost instinctual for you to drive in and get some RBIs? Yeah, baseball's in a great place right now, but we're in this kind of space here where people think RBIs don't matter, and I'm trying to figure out how you win games if you don't push RBIs in. So um, the people in my corner... They've they've instilled in me since I was little, a man on third man on second third runners in scoring position. You better get the job done, whether it's a ground ball to shortstop at the infield back, whether it's a sac fly. But there's an art to driving in runs. And the people in my corner have instilled that in me. So, yeah, the sports in such a great spot. But uh, we got to realize that RBI is I mean, you can't win a game if you don't drive in runs at the end of the day. Okay, so, um... I feel like that's an art that leads to winning, and it's something that I feel like I've got to keep doing. Anybody else? Hey, Sal. I'm here in Dayton. We've got some people in the building that have, you know, seen you since the very beginning. Can you talk about the way that your career has built up to this moment, you know, starting in Daytona to Dayton to where you are now, and kind of pay homage to some of those early seasons that you had? Yeah. Just growing up, sticking to who I was, working hard, keeping my head down, starting in Daytona. Man, when I got into pro ball. Um... Man, it was tough. You know, I hit a rough patch there, and it was up to me to figure it out. Do I want to fold or do I want to figure out a way to get to who I'm capable of being? So um, kudos to the Reds organization. They did a great job with my development. They guided me. Even when I felt like I should have moved up faster, they stuck to their guns and it worked out perfectly. I just want to say thank you to the Reds organization as well. They were a huge instrumental part in in my development and That's why I want to repay them, man. I really want to win for this city. This award's great, but at the end of the day, I don't like sitting down watching the playoffs. I want to be playing in them, and that's something I've got to figure out a way to help my team continue to do that. You mentioned this is just a stepping stone to doing bigger things. Is that what you're referencing? Is playoff games and playing in meaningful games as the next step in your career? One thousand percent. Yeah, one thousand percent. And I know we're capable of it. We have the right guy at the helm. You know, Tito knows what the expectation is. And honestly, he's the first one to make sure that I'm living up to it. And if I'm not, he's the first one calling me in his office, making sure that I live up to it. So we know what it takes. We know what the expectation is. Um, and yeah, man, losing, losing is not fun, man. We do this to win. Uh, we go out there every day to work hard to win. Uh, the fans deserve it. The organization deserves it. Our teammates deserve it. So, uh, I'm going to do my part. I'm going to continue to work hard and I want to go out there and win, man. I really, really do. All right, guys. Well, Sal's got to go back to the party. So thanks for joining us, Sal. And we'll talk to you guys. We'll see you guys later. Yes, sir. Edge, don't forget, just a kid from Miami living his dream. That's all it is. Later, guys. It's time to party. Congratulations.