Sal Stewart Can Really Hit, But Throwing Is A Problem

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Sal Stewart (Photo by Kate Woolson/Reds via Getty Images)

A few years ago, plenty of Orioles fans wondered whether Jackson Holliday would end up pushing Gunnar Henderson off shortstop.

In reality, it was never really a question. Hollidayâ€s arm simply wasnâ€t strong enough to force Henderson to a different position, something we wrote before the 2024 season. Instead, he slid to second base, where he fit better because the position places less demands on arm strength.

That same type of evaluation is once again useful this offseason for Reds corner infielder Sal Stewart, who emerged as one of the minors’ best pure hitters in 2025 while tapping into massive power gains. Heâ€s the No. 1 prospect in the Reds organization and should be a key part of the clubâ€s 2026 lineup.

Most likely, that future will come at first base. The Reds already have Keâ€Bryan Hayes, an excellent defender, as a third-base option if he hits enough. But more importantly, Stewart’s arm currently falls well short of big league standards at third base without major improvements.

After his Sept. 1 callup, Stewart split time between first and third base and played both positions in the Reds’ Wild Card playoff games. At both Triple-A and the majors, his arm strength consistently came up short. One such example: In Game 1 against the Dodgers, Stewart ranged to his right to field a Miguel Rojas grounder:

This was never going to be an easy play, but itâ€s the kind of play that shows why big league third basemen can stick at the position. At his best, Matt Chapman makes this type of play look surprisingly easy. But Stewart doesnâ€t have the arm strength to make this type of play competitive. His 76.7 mph throw didnâ€t come close to carrying the full 160 or so feet he needed it to cover.

Itâ€s not a one-off. Stewart had 34 competitive throws tracked by Statcast between Triple-A and the major leagues. His hardest successful throw from third base was 77.3 mph (he did have a 78.3 mph throwing error), and just six reached 75 mph or harder. The average competitive throw for a big league third baseman is 85 mph across the diamond, and only the Tigers†Andy Ibanez averaged under 79 mph. Ibanez is also the only MLB qualifying third baseman who failed to top 80 mph on a throw. Stewart averaged 70 mph on competitive throws.

Over the past five seasons, the only third basemen to show similar arm strength were Evan Longoria and Kyle Seager at the very end of their careers.

There are also questions about Stewart’s fringy range, but his arm presents a much clearer roadblock. Unless he adds significant arm strength, his long-term home will almost certainly be first base.

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