DJ Stewart

Not to be confused with DJ Steward or D.J. Stewart Jr..

DJ Stewart
Stewart with the Mets in 2024
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1993-11-30) November 30, 1993 (age 31)
Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 12, 2018, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.212
Home runs42
Runs batted in118
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Demetrius Jerome Stewart (born November 30, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. He made his MLB debut in 2018. Stewart played college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles.

Amateur career

Stewart attended the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He played both baseball and football in high school. Stewart was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 28th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He did not sign with the Yankees and enrolled at Florida State University to play college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles.[2]

Stewart playing for Florida State

As a freshman in 2013, Stewart played in 60 games, leading the team in hits (82), batting average (.364), doubles (25) and slugging percentage (.560).[3] He also added five home runs and 59 runs batted in (RBIs). In 2013, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and was named a league all-star.[3][4]

As a sophomore in 2014, Stewart was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year after batting .351/.472/.557 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs.[5] He was also named an All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). In March, he received a four-game suspension for his role in triggering a brawl between the Seminoles and the Florida Gators.[6] After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team during the summer.[7]

Professional career

Baltimore Orioles

Stewart and Tim Beckham with the Orioles in 2018

The Baltimore Orioles selected Stewart in the first round, with the 25th overall selection, in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[8] Stewart signed with the Orioles, receiving a $2,064,500 signing bonus.[9] He spent 2015 with the Aberdeen Ironbirds, where he batted .218 with six home runs and 24 RBIs. Stewart spent the 2016 season with both the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Frederick Keys, where he batted a combined .254 with ten home runs and 55 RBIs between both clubs. In 2017, he played for the Bowie Baysox, where he posted a .278 batting average, 21 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.[10]

On September 11, 2018, Stewart was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut the next day against the Oakland Athletics.[11] Stewart began the 2019 season in Triple-A with the Norfolk Tides, but was recalled to the majors on May 28, 2019, after posting a .316/.425/.586 line with eight home runs.[12] On August 6, 2019, while attempting to field a fly ball hit by Mike Ford of the New York Yankees, Stewart dove too early and was struck on the side of the head by the ball, suffering a concussion and being replaced in the game by Jace Peterson.[13]

In 2020 for the Orioles, Stewart slashed .193/.355/.432 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs over 88 at bats.[14] In 2021, he slashed .204/.324/.374 with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs in 270 at bats.

Stewart went 0-for-3 in three games in the 2022 season before he was designated for assignment on April 19.[15] On April 26, Stewart cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk.[16] Appearing in 29 games for Norfolk to round out the year, Stewart slashed .256/.391/.488 with six home runs and 17 RBIs. He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.

New York Mets

Stewart with the Mets in 2024

On February 2, 2023, Stewart signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization,[17] based at least in part on his experience with Mets manager Buck Showalter while he was manager of the Orioles.[18] He began the 2023 season with the Triple–A Syracuse Mets, playing in 51 games and hitting .229/.362/.516 with 16 home runs and 41 RBI.[19] On July 4, Stewart was selected to the major league roster.[20] In 58 games for New York, he batted .244/.333/.506 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI. On November 17, the Mets re-signed Stewart on a one-year, $1.38 million contract to avoid arbitration.[21]

Stewart played in 74 games for the Mets in 2024, slashing .177/.325/.297 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI. On November 4, 2024, he was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Syracuse.[22] Stewart elected free agency two days later.[23]

Personal life

Stewart's father, Reggie, was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 13th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft and played a few seasons of minor league and independent baseball.[1][24]

References

  1. ^ a b Barney, Justin (June 22, 2012). "All-First Coast Baseball: Bolles' D.J. Stewart goes from snoozing to slugging". Jacksonville.com. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "FSU freshman DJ Stewart eager to deliver clutch hits for Seminoles". Orlando Sentinel. June 3, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Joyce, Greg (July 4, 2013). "Cape League Extra: Spotlight on D.J. Stewart". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "#42 Demetrius Stewart". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "FSU's Stewart named ACC Player of the Year". Tallahassee Democrat. May 19, 2014.
  6. ^ "DJ Stewart of Florida State Seminoles suspended four games for role in skirmish vs. Florida Gators". ESPN. March 27, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "Stewart named to Team USA". Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Baltimore Sun (June 9, 2015). "Orioles select Florida State outfielder DJ Stewart with their first pick in amateur draft". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  9. ^ "Former FSU OF DJ Stewart signs with Orioles".
  10. ^ "D.J. Stewart Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  11. ^ "Bolles product DJ Stewart called to big leagues by Orioles".
  12. ^ "Orioles recall DJ Stewart from Norfolk". May 28, 2019.
  13. ^ "DJ Stewart's embarrassing misplay ends in concussion". August 7, 2019.
  14. ^ "DJ Stewart Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  15. ^ "Orioles Designate DJ Stewart for Assignment". April 19, 2022.
  16. ^ "Orioles' DJ Stewart: Clears waivers". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "Mets' DJ Stewart: Signs minor-league deal". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  18. ^ Sammon, Will (September 16, 2023). "Mets' pickup of DJ Stewart is the kind of move they want to see from David Stearns". The Athletic. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "Mets' DJ Stewart: Selected to NYM roster". CBS Sports. July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  20. ^ "Mets activate RHP Trevor Gott, call up OF DJ Stewart". July 4, 2023.
  21. ^ "Mets cut Vogelbach and Guillorme, sign Stewart to 1-year contract". FOX Sports. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  22. ^ "Mets Claim Luis De Los Santos". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  23. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  24. ^ "Reggie Stewart Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 20, 2023.