Stewart a darkhorse to fill role at first base

DJ Stewart prides himself on being an athlete, and he has the pedigree as a 2015 first-round pick to prove it. When he failed to become a starter in Baltimore, Stewart realized that he needed to put his athleticism on display defensively.

“You see a lot of guys play multiple positions,” Stewart told Trib-Live. “I’m not a middle infielder, so first base was the one spot I think I could play. I’ve played first base growing up. Obviously, it’s different at this level. I pride myself on being athletic. I grew up playing multiple sports. I think that it’s something that’s in my bag.”

Despite playing only one game at first base in his professional career, the barrel-chested 6-foot, 230-pound Stewart has become a darkhorse candidate to play the position after arriving at spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a non-roster invitee on a minor league contract.

“I definitely have a glove,” Stewart said. “It’s obviously new for me, but I’m serviceable over there. … I signed here for a reason, to give the team a chance and do whatever I can to make this team.”

The 31-year-old left-handed hitter has a career .328 on-base percentage, 42 home runs and 118 RBIs in 327 games spread over seven seasons in the majors, including the past two with the New York Mets.

Stewart capitalized on a strong 2023 season in which he posted an .840 OPS and took advantage of the absence of designated hitter J.D. Martinez to make the Opening Day roster last year, but batted .177 with four doubles, five homers and 19 RBIs in 74 games last season.

Now, Stewart is hoping to fill the Pirates’ void at first base created by Spencer Horwitz’s right wrist surgery last month. That has been the driving force for Stewart, “I think I do well when I’m given the opportunity,” Stewart said. “I’ve shown that before, and that’s what I’m looking for — an opportunity.”

Stewart made an immediate impression in his first game with the Pirates, smacking a two-run double in his first at-bat, then hitting a solo home run over the right field fence against the Orioles on Feb. 22.

“It’s the first game, but you definitely want to see balls fall,” Stewart said. “I think every player in the offseason, you come and are like, ‘Am I ever going to get a hit again?’ To see that first one fall in the first inning for me, hopefully they can keep falling.”

That the homer came off Keegan Akin, one of his closest friends from his time in Baltimore, made for some fun. Not only are their wives best friends but their children are about the same age and are playmates. So, for laughs, Stewart stared down Akin after taking him deep.

“It’s funny, he texted me before the game, asking where I was in the order. He had the third inning and didn’t know if we’d be facing each other,” Stewart said. “Then he was warming up in the bullpen and we were bantering with each other a little bit. We just laughed at each other after I hit the home run. We understand that he’s going to get me sometimes and I’m going to get him sometimes. That’s just part of this game. It’s better to see your friend laughing when something like that happens as opposed to someone you don’t like.”

The first game set a strong tone for Stewart, who is batting .333 (6 for 18) with a 1.096 OPS, three doubles, the homer and five RBIs in eight Grapefruit League games. Stewart also had a two-hit game with an RBI at Atlanta on Feb. 26. And he drove in the first run for the Pirates in Wednesday’s 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, fouling off three pitches to work a full count before hitting a bases-loaded chopper to first base to drive in Oneil Cruz in the fourth inning.

Stewart has a trained eye, as evidenced by a 14.2% chase rate, and showed the patience to cover the plate with a 16% walk rate last season. It didn’t take long for Stewart’s swing to catch the attention of Pirates manager Derek Shelton this spring.

“It’s short. It’s compact,” Shelton said. “He has an idea of what he’s doing and he has the ability to get the ball out front and hit the fastball, which I think is important.”

Just as important is how Stewart can handle the leather. He has played almost exclusively at corner outfield spots, with the exception of a game at the St. Louis Cardinals on May 6. Stewart made a nice backhand stop against Baltimore on Saturday in Sarasota, a sign of the glove work he’s been doing on the back fields in Bradenton with Pirates bench coach Don Kelly and infield coach Mendy Lopez.

“They’ve been doing a good job, telling me to be athletic, not too mechanical,” Stewart said Wednesday in an in-game interview with SportsNet Pittsburgh. “Just be an outfielder playing first base, go get outs. That’s the biggest thing. Having guys who’ve played infield longer than me, I’m just trying to get advice from them and get as much help as I can.”

Stewart has taken the best advice to heart: “Be an athlete. Don’t overcomplicate it. Just be an athlete and attack it like an outfielder.”