Reds broadcast's defense of Sal Stewart included Ke'Bryan Hayes catching a stray

The 2026 National League Rookie of the Year race features Cincinnati's Sal Stewart, an All-Star with 27 home runs and a league-leading 94 RBIs, against St. Louis's JJ Wetherholt, known for his defensive skills and baserunning. During Wednesday's Reds-Cardinals broadcast, announcer Jeff Brantley argued that Stewart should be the runaway favorite, dismissing the emphasis on defensive metrics and suggesting that if fielding alone mattered, the Reds' Ke'Bryan Hayes should win MVP—an unintended jab at Hayes's offensive struggles despite his two Gold Glove Awards. Brantley contended that elevating a player hitting .243 over Stewart's offensive production requires more justification than defensive prowess alone.

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