Stewart embracing opportunity to boost Bucs, add 1B to resume

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Outfielder DJ Stewart is getting an opportunity with the Pirates, and he has made a good first impression as a hitter so far while also learning to play first base. A fill-in is needed there while Spencer Horwitz works his way back from right wrist surgery.

Stewart had an off-day Friday during Pittsburgh's 3-2 win over the Rays at LECOM Park, but he is batting .545 (6-for-11) with three doubles, four RBIs and a team-high six hits in 11 at-bats across five Grapefruit League games.

¡°[Thursday, Stewart] got tested,¡± manager Derek Shelton said. ¡°He had two or three plays over there -- had to go to his right. He¡¯s been swinging the bat well, and we know he can hit.

¡°So, it¡¯s one of those things where we¡¯re seeing if he plays over there along with being in the outfield, because versatility will definitely help in that [roster] situation.¡±

Has Stewart, a 2015 first-round Draft pick by the Orioles, made adjustments to his swing or approach after batting .177 in 74 games for the Mets last season?

¡°I definitely made some adjustments,¡± he said. ¡°I went to Atlanta, at Maven Baseball Lab, and hit with those fellas. I went there and hit with [co-founder] Tyler [Krieger] a little bit. My swing feels good where it is. I¡¯m still working every day and challenging myself on the things that I handle well. And just being really good at the things I am good at, and not missing those pitches.

¡°The biggest thing for me was just cleaning up my path [to the ball], staying through the ball and not coming around it. I feel like I¡¯m in a good spot right now, but it¡¯s early in Spring Training, and I¡¯ve got to keep working. It¡¯s a long year.¡±

Krieger also works with All-Star hitting standouts Matt Olson of the Braves, Nolan Arenado of the Cardinals and Paul Goldschmidt of the Yankees.

Stewart has only exceeded 200 at-bats once in his seven-year career. He batted .204 with 12 homers and 33 RBIs in 270 at-bats in 2021 with the Orioles. He hit .244 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs in 58 games for the Mets in '23, but he struggled again last season.

What does he bring to the Pirates?

¡°I bring power -- left-handed power,¡± Stewart said. ¡°I¡¯m a corner outfielder trying to learn some first base, too. So, some versatility. There¡¯s a need for a first baseman right now with Spence out.

¡°I'm just trying to get a good team with the opportunity for the best player to get on the field and help them win.¡±

Stewart is working with bench coach Don Kelly -- who played all nine positions in nine seasons with the Pirates, Tigers and Marlins -- and infield coach Mendy L¨®pez.

¡°They¡¯re telling me to use what I have in the outfield and just be athletic,¡± Stewart said, ¡°and go out there and just make plays.¡±

Stewart played catcher and first base in youth leagues, but he was ¡°probably 12¡± the last time he played first base until last season, when he played five innings there on May 6.

¡°In New York, they had certain ways they taught first base,¡± he said. ¡°It was fun, but here it¡¯s more about just being an athlete and going after it. There aren¡¯t certain steps you should take [with the Pirates], just be athletic.¡±

So, Stewart's fielding approach is simplified?

¡°One hundred percent,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a new position, and they wanted it to be simple and get outs.¡±

Stewart also picks his teammates' brains.

¡°Isiah Kiner-Falefa is one of the guys who's helped me learn how to be a utility guy,¡± Stewart said. ¡°¡­ I listen to everything he says.¡±

Rays manager Joe Maddon popularized developing super utility players, beginning with Ben Zobrist in 2006. Did Stewart ever foresee himself working to become one?

¡°Not really,¡± he said. ¡°When it was first presented to me [by the Mets], I was OK with it. It wasn¡¯t really surprising to me, because you see so many guys now. They want guys who can play more positions, and it helps roster-wise.

¡°Early in my career, I never saw that. I would rotate into all three outfield positions. But the way the game is going now, I don¡¯t mind it at all.¡±

If he keeps hitting, Stewart will be in the mix for a roster spot.

When asked what he likes about Stewart¡¯s swing, Shelton said, ¡°It¡¯s short. It¡¯s compact. He has an idea what he¡¯s doing, and the ability to get the ball out front and hit the fastball, which I think is important.¡±

So far, so good.