Reds Stars Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart Are Silver Slugger Finalists

Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart Named Silver Slugger Finalists

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and infielder Sal Stewart are finalists for the 2026 Silver Slugger Awards.

The announcement was made by Major League Baseball on November 5, 2026.

De La Cruz is a finalist for the National League shortstop award.

Stewart is listed in the utility-player category.

Both players put up standout individual numbers despite the Reds’ offense ranking among the weakest in baseball this season.

De La Cruz posted a .283 batting average, a .365 on-base percentage, and a .515 slugging percentage in 143 games.

He hit 30 home runs and drove in 79 runs.

The other National League shortstop finalists are CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals and Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins.

Abrams hit 33 home runs and had 106 RBIs, giving him an edge in raw power production.

De La Cruz appears to be in a two-player contest with Abrams for the award.

Stewart finished the season with 32 home runs and 111 RBIs across 700 plate appearances.

The other utility finalists are Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres.

Bauers led the group with a 140 OPS+ in 578 plate appearances.

Tatis topped Stewart in most rate statistics.

Stewart’s advantages were playing time, home runs, and RBIs.

The Silver Slugger Award is given annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American and National Leagues.

It is voted on by MLB managers and coaches, who cannot vote for players on their own team.

The award has been presented since 1980 by Louisville Slugger, the bat manufacturer.

Winners will be announced on November 17, 2026.

If De La Cruz wins, he would be the first Reds shortstop to win a Silver Slugger since Barry Larkin in 1995.

If Stewart wins, he would be the first Reds utility player to win the award since its creation in 2021.

The last time two Reds players won Silver Sluggers in the same season was 1989, when Eric Davis and Chris Sabo took home the honors.

De La Cruz, 24, has already made two All-Star appearances in his young career.

He debuted in 2023 and quickly became one of the most electric players in the game, known for his 6-foot-5 frame, elite speed, and power.

This season, he also stole 45 bases, making him one of only three players in MLB to hit 30 homers and steal 40 bags in 2026.

Stewart, 23, was the Reds’ first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Westminster Christian School in Florida.

He split time between second base, third base, and first base in 2026, which qualified him for the utility category.

His 111 RBIs ranked third in the National League.

His 32 home runs were tied for eighth in the NL.

The Reds finished the 2026 season with a 76-86 record, placing fourth in the NL Central.

Cincinnati’s team batting average was .241, ranking 27th in MLB.

The team scored 712 runs, the fifth-fewest in the National League.

Despite those struggles, De La Cruz and Stewart provided consistent production in the middle of the lineup.

De La Cruz led the Reds in batting average, home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases.

Stewart led the team in RBIs and ranked second in home runs.

The utility award race is less clear than the shortstop race.

Bauers led the group in OPS+, which measures on-base plus slugging adjusted for ballpark and league.

Tatis posted a higher batting average and on-base percentage than Stewart.

But Stewart’s counting stats — home runs and RBIs — are significantly higher than Bauers and comparable to Tatis.

Voters may decide whether to reward rate production or the greater volume and counting stats Stewart delivered.

The Silver Slugger finalists reflect standout individual seasons in a struggling Reds lineup.

This recognition comes at a time when De La Cruz’s future in Cincinnati is a hot topic.

Trade rumors have swirled around De La Cruz throughout the offseason.

Former Reds players, national media, and even leaks about interested teams have fueled speculation.

Some fans have supported moving on from their best player, citing the Reds’ small-market status and lack of direction.

The Reds currently control De La Cruz through the 2030 season.

If the Reds decide to trade him, many analysts argue they should wait until at least 2029 to see where the team stands competitively.

For now, the Silver Slugger nomination adds another layer to the conversation.

It confirms that De La Cruz is one of the best offensive shortstops in the National League.

It also raises the question: if the Reds have two Silver Slugger finalists, is the offense really as broken as the team record suggests?

The answer may lie in the lack of depth around them.