Sal Stewart passes Joey Votto in Reds' record books, now pursuing HOFer

Providing Cincinnati Reds fans a reason to cheer during a tough season for the team, rookie sensation Sal Stewart has moved closer to setting a franchise record. 

Stewart hit his 25th home run of the season in the Reds' 6-4 win over the Athletics on Thursday. The blast broke his tie with Reds great Joey Votto, placing him just 13 away from matching Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for the most by a rookie in Cincinnati history. 

Sal Stewart is on pace to have a shot at breaking Frank Robinson's record 

Robinson crushed 38 in 1956 en route to being named the National League's Rookie of the Year. He would play the first 10 of seasons of his legendary 21-year career for the Reds, winning the 1961 league MVP in a Cincinnati uniform. 

Needing to stay hot, Stewart is on pace to fall just shy of Robinson's mark with 35 home runs on the year. 

Sal Stewart tied Joey Votto for second a few days earlier 

Stewart's 25th home run of the season came via a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was his second home run of the month and first since he tied Votto with No. 24 on Aug. 2. 

The 22-year-old versatile infielder, who was playing first base on Thursday despite also having logged significant time at third base, has recorded his 25 home runs in far fewer games and at-bats than Votto needed as a rookie in 2008.