Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart claimed sole possession of the National League RBI lead with 97 on Saturday, August 22, 2026, passing St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker in the process. Stewart now leads all NL hitters in runs batted in — and leads the entire majors as well. His march up the leaderboard has become one of the most compelling individual storylines in the National League.

The Number: 97 RBI and Sole Possession of the NL Lead

Stewart's 97 RBI puts him one ahead of Jordan Walker, who had been sharing or holding the NL lead heading into Saturday. The margin is razor-thin — one RBI separates first from second — but sole possession is sole possession. In a league full of established sluggers, a rookie sitting atop the RBI leaderboard in late August is not a small thing.

Walker and the Cardinals will not simply hand this lead back. St. Louis and Cincinnati are division rivals, which means this individual battle adds another layer to every at-bat Stewart takes when these clubs meet.

The Context: A Rookie Making His Mark

Stewart is confirmed as a rookie in 2026 and has been on the Reds' active roster since April 16. His path to 97 RBI by late August is a meaningful pace for any hitter, let alone one in his first full season. For reference, his 2025 big-league sample — 18 games, 55 at-bats, 8 RBI — offered a glimpse of what he could do, but nothing that projected a leaderboard-topping breakout at this scale.

His 2025 slash line of .255/.293/.545 in that small sample showed pop — five home runs in 55 at-bats, an OPS of .838 — and the power has clearly carried over into 2026. A rookie producing at the top of the NL RBI leaderboard through 120-plus games represents a significant development for Cincinnati's offense.

Why It Matters: The Reds Have a Run-Producer in Stewart

RBI leadership at this stage of the season carries real weight. It reflects not just individual performance but the ability to come through consistently with runners on base. Stewart's 97 RBI indicate he has been doing exactly that all season long for Cincinnati.

  • Stewart leads all NL hitters with 97 RBI heading into the final stretch of the 2026 regular season.
  • He also leads all of Major League Baseball in the category.
  • He passed Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker by a margin of one to claim sole possession.
  • He is confirmed as a rookie in 2026.

What's Next: Defending the Lead Over the Final Weeks

With the regular season's final stretch ahead, Stewart will need to keep producing in the heart of the Reds' lineup to hold off Walker and any other NL hitters who may be closing the gap. Every game at Great American Ball Park — and every road series — becomes a chance for Stewart to pad the lead or for a rival to erase it.

The Cardinals and Reds remain NL Central competitors, so Walker will have every motivation to reclaim the top spot. For Cincinnati, the goal is straightforward: keep getting Stewart good at-bats, keep runners on base in front of him, and let the league's RBI leader do what he has done all season. The leaderboard updates daily, and right now, Sal Stewart's name sits at the top.