Sal Stewart: Rookie Sensation Powers Reds Despite Painful Injury
CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Reds rookie first baseman Sal Stewart delivered a stellar Opening Day performance on Thursday, showcasing his potential as a key player for the team. However, his impressive debut was nearly cut short by a frightening incident in the fifth inning.
A Line Drive That Stunned the Crowd
With one out and a runner on first, Boston Red Sox batter Roman Anthony unleashed a scorching 110.2 mph line drive directly at Stewart. The ball struck Stewart’s left wrist with brutal force, sending him crashing to the ground. His glove flew off immediately.
“I was just guarding the runner and then Roman smoked that ball. As soon as he hit it, my arm just went numb and dangled,” Stewart recounted after the game. The impact was so severe that manager Terry Francona initially feared the worst.
“I thought I lost Sal for a minute. It was hit a hundred-million miles an hour at him,” said pitcher Andrew Abbott, who was on the mound at the time.
Resilience and Continued Performance
Fortunately, after evaluation by head trainer Sean McQueeney, Stewart was able to continue playing. “Sean came over. I asked him, ‘Is it broken?’ He’s like, ‘It doesn’t feel like it.’ So was like, ‘All right, I’m not going anywhere.’ Just kept on playing,” Stewart explained. Francona added, “I think at first he thought it was broken. You could tell by the way he acted. I think once kind of the shock wore off … he’s going to be sore. That was a bullet. I think we dodged a big bullet.”
Despite the pain, Stewart didn’t let the injury derail his performance. He finished the game with three hits – including doubles in the second and eighth innings – becoming the first Reds rookie since 1958 to record three hits on Opening Day and the first to bat cleanup.
Remarkably, on the very first pitch after the near-exit, Stewart ripped an opposite-field single, extending a one-out rally against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
Abbott’s Impressive Debut
While the Reds ultimately fell to the Red Sox 3-0, Andrew Abbott’s performance provided a bright spot. After a rocky Spring Training (11.25 ERA), the left-hander delivered six scoreless innings, allowing seven hits, one walk, and striking out four batters on 83 pitches.
Abbott credited a conversation with Francona and pitching coach Derek Johnson for helping him regain his focus. “I think based off that conversation, it kind of revitalized me. You felt down, you’re dwelling, you’re frustrated, but I was able to move forward, forget about that stuff and focus on the next pitch, the next at-bat, the next game. I did a good job today of doing that.”
Defensive Highlights and a Realistic Outlook
The Reds’ improved defense, a point of emphasis during the offseason, was also on display. Ke’Bryan Hayes and Elly De La Cruz both turned crucial double plays in the first two innings.
Francona acknowledged the tendency for overreaction following Opening Day. “Today or tomorrow will be the biggest overreaction day of the year. If we win, we’re going to the World Series, and if we lose, we’re going to stink. And you’ve got to sit through that the whole day [Friday].”
Despite the loss, the atmosphere at Great American Ball Park was electric, with a sold-out crowd of 43,897 fans providing enthusiastic support. Abbott emphasized the importance of continued fan support throughout the long season. “Fantastic. I was kind of focused. I didn’t really get to enjoy it a lot. But you heard the crowd. They were energized the whole time. We ask nothing more than that. We love the support we get from every single fan here. I know we didn’t get a win but keep coming back. It’s Game 1 out of 162.”
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