MLB Network analyst just gave Sal Stewart the ultimate Rookie of the Year defense

As the 2026 season enters September, Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart and St. Louis Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt are competing closely for National League Rookie of the Year. MLB Network analyst Chris Young argued the race should not be competitive, pointing to Stewart's 28 home runs and 100 RBIs as decisive offensive statistics that typically determine the award. Young criticized advanced metrics like WAR for undervaluing Stewart, noting that Wetherholt's 4.8 WAR compared to Stewart's 1.9 suggests the metric may not properly account for first basemen's contributions.

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