DJ Stewart

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = DJ Stewart

| team = Pittsburgh Pirates

| number =

| image = D. J. Stewart speaking with a member of the Washington Nationals, March 15, 2024 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Stewart with the Mets in 2024

| position = Outfielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|11|30}}

| birth_place = Gainesville, Florida, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 12

| debutyear = 2018

| debutteam = Baltimore Orioles

| statyear = 2024 season

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .212

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 42

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 118

| teams = * Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2022}})

New York Mets ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})

}}

Demetrius Jerome Stewart (born November 30, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. 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.{{cite news|last=Barney|first=Justin |url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/high-schools/2012-06-22/story/all-first-coast-baseball-bolles-dj-stewart-goes-snoozing |title=All-First Coast Baseball: Bolles' D.J. Stewart goes from snoozing to slugging |publisher=Jacksonville.com |date=June 22, 2012 |access-date=February 13, 2019}} He did not sign with the Yankees and enrolled at Florida State University to play college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/06/03/fsu-freshman-dj-stewart-eager-to-deliver-clutch-hits-for-seminoles/ |title=FSU freshman DJ Stewart eager to deliver clutch hits for Seminoles |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=February 13, 2019}}

File:D. J. Stewart 2014.jpg in 2014]]

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).{{cite news |last1=Joyce |first1=Greg |title=Cape League Extra: Spotlight on D.J. Stewart |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/sports/2013/07/05/cape-league-extra-spotlight-on/44939270007/ |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=Cape Cod Times |date=July 4, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=471264&seasonid=21954 |title=#42 Demetrius Stewart |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=July 20, 2021}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/2014/05/19/fsus-stewart-named-acc-player-year/9293199/|title=FSU's Stewart named ACC Player of the Year|date=May 19, 2014|work=Tallahassee Democrat}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/10681829/dj-stewart-florida-state-seminoles-suspended-four-games-role-skirmish-vs-florida-gators |title=DJ Stewart of Florida State Seminoles suspended four games for role in skirmish vs. Florida Gators |work=ESPN |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=February 13, 2019}} After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team during the summer.{{Cite web |url=http://archive.tallahassee.com/article/20140501/FSU02/305010044/Stewart-named-Team-USA |title=Stewart named to Team USA |access-date=May 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518103700/http://archive.tallahassee.com/article/20140501/FSU02/305010044/Stewart-named-Team-USA |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Professional career

=Baltimore Orioles=

The Baltimore Orioles selected Stewart in the first round, with the 25th overall selection, in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-draft-0609-20150608-story.html#page=1|title=Orioles select Florida State outfielder DJ Stewart with their first pick in amateur draft|author=Baltimore Sun|date=June 9, 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=February 13, 2019}} Stewart signed with the Orioles, receiving a $2,064,500 signing bonus.{{cite web | url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/baseball/2015/06/27/former-fsu-dj-stewart-signs-orioles/29394609/ | title=Former FSU OF DJ Stewart signs with Orioles }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=621466#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL|title=D.J. Stewart Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 2, 2017}}

File:DJ Stewart (43185509540) (cropped).jpg

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20180911/bolles-product-dj-stewart-called-to-big-leagues-by-orioles|title = Bolles product DJ Stewart called to big leagues by Orioles}} On September 19, he hit his first major league home run, off of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada.{{Cite web |title=Stewart's career day leads O's to victory |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dj-stewart-hits-first-homer-double-in-win-c295297342 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Stewart played in 17 games for the Orioles in 2018, batting .250/.340/.550 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI.

Stewart began the 2019 season in Triple-A with the Norfolk Tides, but was recalled to the majors on May 28, 2019, after slashing .316/.425/.586 with 8 home runs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.camdenchat.com/2019/5/28/18642861/orioles-news-dj-stewart-recalled-roster|title = Orioles recall DJ Stewart from Norfolk|date = May 28, 2019}} On August 6, 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.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/08/07/dj-stewarts-embarrassing-misplay-ends-in-concussion/|title = DJ Stewart's embarrassing misplay ends in concussion|date = August 7, 2019}} Across 44 games for the Orioles in 2019, Stewart batted .238/.317/.381 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI.

In 2020 for the Orioles, Stewart slashed .193/.355/.432 with 7 home runs and 15 RBIs in 31 games. In 2021, he slashed .204/.324/.374 with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs in 100 games.

Stewart went 0-for-3 in three games in the 2022 season before he was designated for assignment on April 19.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/orioles-designate-dj-stewart-for-assignment.html|title=Orioles Designate DJ Stewart for Assignment|date=April 19, 2022 }} On April 26, Stewart cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk.{{Cite web|title=Orioles' DJ Stewart: Clears waivers|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-dj-stewart-clears-waivers/amp/|access-date=January 18, 2023|website=CBS Sports|language=en}} Appearing in 29 games for Norfolk to round out the year, he slashed .256/.391/.488 with 6 home runs and 17 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=December 30, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}

=New York Mets=

File:D. J. Stewart hits a home run, March 15, 2024 - 00005.jpg

On February 2, 2023, Stewart signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization,{{Cite web|title=Mets' DJ Stewart: Signs minor-league deal|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-dj-stewart-signs-minor-league-deal/amp/|access-date=February 2, 2023|website=CBS Sports|language=en}} based at least in part on his experience with Mets manager Buck Showalter while he was manager of the Orioles.{{cite news |last1=Sammon |first1=Will |title=Mets' pickup of DJ Stewart is the kind of move they want to see from David Stearns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4869425/2023/09/16/mets-dj-stewart-david-stearns/ |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=The Athletic |date=September 16, 2023 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Mets' DJ Stewart: Selected to NYM roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-dj-stewart-selected-to-nym-roster/|access-date=July 4, 2023|website=CBS Sports|date=July 4, 2023 |language=en}} On July 4, Stewart was selected to the major league roster.{{cite web | url=https://www.mdjonline.com/fieldlevel/mets-activate-rhp-trevor-gott-call-up-of-dj-stewart/article_0e0bac47-036f-5bb2-9753-170d76d44866.html | title=Mets activate RHP Trevor Gott, call up OF DJ Stewart | date=July 4, 2023 }} In 58 games for New York, he batted .244/.333/.506 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI.

Stewart played in 74 games for the Mets in 2024, slashing .177/.325/.297 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI.{{Cite web |title=DJ Stewart Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/dj-stewart-621466 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On November 4, 2024, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Syracuse.{{Cite web|title=Mets Claim Luis De Los Santos|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/mets-claim-luis-de-los-santos.html|access-date=November 7, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 4, 2024 |language=en}} Stewart elected free agency two days later.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|work=Baseball America|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|first=Matt|last=Eddy}}

= Pittsburgh Pirates =

On January 11, 2025, Stewart signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-16 |title=Pirates' DJ Stewart: Inks MiLB deal with Pittsburgh |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-dj-stewart-inks-milb-deal-with-pittsburgh/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}

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.{{cite web |title=Reggie Stewart Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=stewar001reg |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=December 20, 2023 |language=en}}