September call-ups are fast approaching, and it looks like the Cincinnati Reds are preparing to bring Sal Stewart to the majors. On Sunday night, MLB insider Jon Morosi reported that the move is nearly finalized.
To clear space, the Reds outrighted Connor Joe, opening a spot on the 40-man roster for Stewart. Joe has been in Triple-A since August 2, where he’s struggled with a .177/.301/.258 line over 20 games.
Rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on September 1, but players must first be added to the 40-man roster before joining the active roster — which Stewart currently isn’t.
This is often the time when teams give their top prospects a shot at the big leagues. Reds fans have been calling for Stewart’s promotion for weeks, and it seems they’re about to get their wish.
Reds just outrighted Connor Joe, signaling that Sal Stewart could be in line for a September call-up
If the Reds don’t finalize the move before 11:59 p.m. ET, Sal Stewart won’t be eligible for the postseason roster should Cincinnati make the playoffs. Following Sunday’s win over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Reds pulled within four games of the Mets in the NL Wild Card race.
Since joining Triple-A Louisville last month, Stewart has been on fire. In 38 games with the Bats, he’s slashing .315/.394/.629 with 15 doubles and 10 homers heading into Sunday’s action.
The question now is where Stewart will fit defensively if promoted. A week ago, second base looked like the obvious spot, but Matt McLain has heated up with back-to-back home runs and improved at the plate.
Stewart also has experience at third base, has a couple of starts at first, and could serve as the designated hitter. No matter the position, his bat is expected to be a fixture in Cincinnati’s lineup down the stretch.
Will the Reds pull the trigger? It appears likely, especially with Connor Joe being outrighted from the 40-man roster.
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