SARASOTA, Fla.—A year ago, DJ Stewart was hoping that 2018 would be the year he made it to the major leagues. The Orioles’ No. 1 draft choice in 2015, Stewart hadn’t lived up to the team’s expectations for him.
Stewart stayed through much of spring training and went to Triple-A Norfolk, hoping his stay wouldn’t be a long one. It turned out to be a full season with the Tides, and not a very satisfying one.
He batted just .235 but did have a .329 on-base percentage. Stewart hit 12 home runs and had 55 RBIs. He also 11 steals in 15 attempts.
Stewart was home in September when he was summoned to Baltimore. He played in 17 games, hitting .250 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
This spring, his goal is to stay with the Orioles for the entire season.
“Obviously, it’s a different clubhouse,” Stewart said. “There’s a lot of different guys in here. This year it’s more open, guys competing with guys in here.”
The 25-year-old Stewart seems different, too.
“The biggest difference is just knowing that I can do it,” said Stewart, who’s batting .333 in eight games this spring. “I got up there last year and showed that I could play, and knowing in my mind.
“You always think, ‘How’s it going to be when you get up there?’ You always have it in your head, ‘How’s it going to go?’ That’s the biggest thing for me, just knowing that I can do it. I’ve done it. I showed it before, so coming out here and getting better and getting there again.”
Stewart was hitless in his first 13 big league at-bats before going 10-for-27.
“I felt comfortable in the box the whole time that I was up there, hitting the ball hard, just hitting it right at people,” Stewart said.
“That’s the game of baseball, it doesn’t always fall in…There wasn’t a whole lot of adjustments with the coaching staff, even when I was up there. They kept saying, ‘Keep swinging and eventually, they’ll fall. I think you saw that once I got the first one to fall, they kept coming. That’s what it takes. Sometimes you overlook it and think there are adjustments that you have to make, but realistically, you have to keep swinging the bat and they’ll fall eventually.”
Stewart faces lots of competition. Yusniel Diaz and Austin Hays have been impressive in camp, and so has Eric Young Jr. He wants to come north, but it’s hardly a guarantee.
“Obviously, it’s a disappointment because you want to be in the big leagues ultimately,” Stewart said. “That’s our goal. That’s everyone’s goal, every single day is to be in the big leagues and stay in the big leagues, you want to put on that big league uniform; it’s an honor to do that. It would be a disappointment. I’m not going to let it put me down one way or the other. If that is the case, I’m going to be continue to work, and prove myself that I should be up there.”
There’s an opening in right field, and that’s where Stewart has been playing, but he’s open to playing any of the outfield positions.
“That’s for the coaches to decide,” Stewart said. “Wherever they put me, I’ll feel comfortable and go out there and do my job to the best of my ability.
“The biggest thing [manager Brandon Hyde] said is just go out and compete and don’t really worry about positions. Go out there and compete, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
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Play the young guys, not Young....
Stewart has to know this is his biggest chance. This particular ball club in this particular year. This season or next. The clock is ticking and the door of opportunity is wide open.
I don’t know about anybody else , but that looks like the same Chris Davis swinging or not swinging. Don’t know who he was talking to but they weren’t very convincing
I hope and expect DJ will be on the roster and interested to see if he is a platoon bat, an everyday outfielder, or a scrub.
In response to CalsPals, I heard Young is a guy who wants to manage. So I think having a vet with great baseball acumen has a lot of value to the young guys on the team.. Let Hays and Diaz prove themselves a bit in the minors and Young could be a coach on the field for a few months.
The outfield is going to be interesting for sure... Mullins more than likely already has a spot... Mancini will be out there, then there's Hays, Diaz, Stewart, and I would add McKenna in the mix for the last spot.
Stewart and Hays are all around ball players....they both are gonna be on the team. They have coaches don't need Young. Diaz will be sent down at first. Trumbo if healthy has to play so that takes up a spot.
Not that Hays is a super star but service time manipulation has to be considered. So I think he plays at least April in the minors. Mullins, Stewart, Mancini and either Young or Rickard will be our outfielders to start the year I believe. Oh and nod to the rule 5 utility player Jackson who might make the team and play some OF.
Hope springs eternal... Making the team out of Spring training doesn’t mean you’re a major leaguer. He has a long way to go to be classified as such.
Seeing Mullins name brought up (again) brings forth the same thoughts. Managements choices are limited... throw them to the wolves in the majors or season them some more in the minors. I’m betting the ones that get sent down will come out better in the long run.