Sal Stewart has just been named the National League Rookie of the Month—but if you think he's popping champagne, think again. The Cincinnati Reds' first baseman has his eyes locked on something else entirely: breaking out of a frustrating mini-slump.

As the Reds rolled into Chicago to face the Cubs on May 5, Stewart was sitting on a rough two-for-28 stretch over his last seven games. For a guy who just earned top rookie honors, that's not the encore he had in mind.

"I always want to push myself to be the best," Stewart said. "I didn't like how I finished the month. I left something on the table. This month, I want to get it together and stay focused."

This marks the first real taste of adversity in Stewart's young big-league career. Pitchers have started adjusting, attacking him more inside, and now it's his turn to respond. "It's a cat and mouse game," he explained. "They're coming at me in a different way. I need to respond. That's the game. I understand that I've got to make adjustments. I've got to be better. My last couple of games wasn't who I am."

Reds manager Terry Francona, however, isn't hitting the panic button. He's seen this movie before with promising rookies. "I don't know that he's going to hit .400," Francona said with a shrug. "I hope he does, but not too many people do. He has hit some balls at people."

Case in point: on Sunday against the Pirates, Stewart just missed sending a game-changing homer over the fence. If that ball had carried a few more feet, the mood around the clubhouse might be entirely different. Francona also noted that Stewart is already working on adjustments, particularly against pitchers who are "busting him in hard."

And let's not forget—the overall numbers still shine. Stewart ranks second among Reds regulars in on-base-plus-slugging percentage, sitting 31% above league average. He's also racked up nine homers and 29 RBI. Not bad for a guy in a "slump."

What's really fueling Stewart's confidence, though, is his defense. He's become a versatile weapon for Francona, holding down first base while also logging time at second and third. "I'm happy about that," Stewart said. "That, I'm very pleased with. Being able to play first, second and third gives Tito more options. I want to be elite at all of those positions to give the team the best chance."

And if that wasn't enough to keep his spirits up, there's the setting for this series: historic Wrigley Field. "This is sick," Stewart said, smiling. "I remember coming to a game here with my dad when (Anthony) Rizzo played. It's awesome. The city is awesome."

For a rookie who just won monthly honors but refuses to rest on his laurels, Chicago might just be the perfect place to turn that mini-slump into a distant memory.