Position: OF
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 11/30/1993
College: Florida State University
Drafted: 1st Round, 25th Overall, 2015 (Orioles)
How Acquired: Minor league free agent
Bonus: $2,064,500
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 0
Overview
The Orioles drafted Stewart in the first round in 2015 as a potential power-hitting corner outfielder. Scouts have always had issues with his swing, though, and he hasn’t shown quite the power that Baltimore hoped to see. He also doesn’t hit for average, although he does draw walks at a good rate. He has just a .582 career OPS against LHPs, .761 against RHPs. Stewart’s arm strength is a little above average, but his speed and outfield defensive ability have been below average. The Pirates signed Stewart to a minor league deal for 2025.
2015-17
Stewart spent his draft year in short-season ball, then divided 2016 between the two class A levels. He didn’t hit especially well, and showed only limited power, until he got to high A, where he put up an .869 OPS.
The Orioles kept Stewart in AA in 2017 and he hit 21 home runs. He had a strong slash line of 278/378/481, and a good K:BB ratio of 87:65.
2018-20
In 2018, Stewart didn’t hit well in his first try at AAA, batting 235/329/387. The Orioles still called him up in mid-September and he got into 17 games with them, hitting three home runs. He hit much better in AAA in 2019, batting 283/397/550 with a dozen home runs in 63 games. He got into 44 games with the Orioles and had a .698 OPS.
In 2020, the Orioles called him up from their alternate training site in September. He batted .193 in 31 games, but he had more walks than hits and also had seven home runs. He struck out in 34% of his plate appearances.
2021-22
Stewart spent all of 2021 with the Orioles, serving in a platoon role that got him 318 plate appearances. He hit just 204/324/374, for an OPS+ of 91. In 2022, Baltimore outrighted Stewart to AAA after three games and he spent the rest of the season in the minors battling injuries. He got into only 34 games in the minors, although he at least had an .879 OPS in AAA. He became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league deal with the Mets.
2023-24
In 2023, Stewart spent the first half of the season in AAA, batting 229/362/516 with 16 home runs in 51 games. The Mets called him up on July 4 and, over the rest of the season, he had his best stretch in the majors. He hit 244/333/506 with 11 home runs. The following season he opened with the Mets but didn’t hit, for power or anything else, batting just 177/325/298 in 74 games. The Mets sent him to AAA in early August, although he returned to get into six major league games in September. After the season, New York outrighted Stewart off the 40-man roster and he elected free agency.
Stats
Transactions
June 6, 2012: Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 28th round, 877th overall pick.
June 8, 2015: Drafted by the Baltimore in the 1st round, 25th overall pick; signed on June 28.
September 11, 2018: Contract purchased by the Baltimore Orioles.
April 26, 2022: Outrighted to AAA by the Baltimore Orioles.
November 10, 2022: Became a free agent.
February 2, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the New York Mets.
July 4, 2023: Called up by the New York Mets.
November 4, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the New York Mets and elected free agency.
January 11, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.