Sal Stewart is the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, but New York Mets star Juan Soto does not think he should.
Stewart was an All-Star and played in all 162 games for the Cincinnati Reds. He finished with 111 RBIs, ranking third in Major League Baseball. He is clearly one of the bright young stars in the league, but Soto thinks Carson Benge should be recognized as the National League Rookie of the Year.
"100 percent," Soto said when asked if Benge should win Rookie of the Year, per Max Goodman. "It’s what he’s been showing. Not only on the defense side, but he’s been showing it day in and day out running the bases, stealing bags, all that kind of stuff. He’s a superstar. He’s been doing a really good job.”
Stewart made his debut last year, so he already had a small taste of the big leagues. Benge did not make his debut until Opening Day this year, but adjusted quickly. He finished the year with a .282/.346/.430 slash line and posted a 20-20 season.
Benge finished the season with a higher bWAR than Stewart, more hits, more stolen bases, a higher average, a higher on-base percentage and OPS+. Defensively, he has a much bigger impact than Stewart.
It's unlikely that Benge actually wins the award, but he has clearly established himself as a big part of the Mets' future.