Ian Stewart (baseball)

Ian Stewart
Washington Nationals
Third baseman
Born: April 5, 1985
Long Beach, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 11, 2007 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics
(through 2014 season)
Batting average .229
Home runs 61
Runs batted in 211
Teams

Ian Kenneth Stewart (born April 5, 1985) is an American professional baseball infielder in the Washington Nationals organization. He has previously played for the Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Baseball career

Colorado Rockies

Drafted in the 2003 MLB Draft first round out of La Quinta High School in Westminster, California, Stewart showed great promise in short-season rookie-league ball with the Casper Rockies in the Pioneer League. His .401 on-base percentage and .558 slugging average appeared to justify his first-round selection. In 2004, Stewart continued to progress in low-A ball at Asheville in the South Atlantic League with a .398 OBP and .594 SLG. Baseball America ranked him as the fourth best prospect in baseball behind Delmon Young, Félix Hernández and Joe Mauer.

In 2005, he began play in high-A ball in Modesto, California in the California League. He got off to a very slow start, hitting for a low average with little power. He went to extended spring training and came back to play with Modesto in June, 2005. Up until June 20, Stewart was hitting under .230 with few homers. His supposedly improving defense also suffered. However, Stewart rebounded later in the season and finished with a respectable .353 OBP and .497 SLG, although he showed a worrisome tendency to strike out.

Stewart played in the Arizona Fall League after the conclusion of the 2005 minor league season. Here, Stewart got off to a good start with impressive power. Unfortunately, he suffered a wrist injury while sliding into second base. The MRI showed limited damage, but any wrist injury is troublesome for a power hitter. He was shut down for the rest of the AFL.

Stewart was invited to the Colorado Rockies 2006 spring training. He began well, hitting six home runs and batting over .400 in the first few games. Stewart re-established himself as a power-hitting prospect, and the Rockies sent him to Tulsa, Oklahoma in the AA Texas League. Here Stewart began the season well, but fell into a slump that sent his average to .235 in mid-May before being sidelined with another injury. The injury was not serious, and Stewart only missed ten games. When he returned, Stewart improved noticeably and finished the season with a .351 on-base percentage and a .452 slugging average.

Stewart's power potential makes him a possibility for the Rockies' third base position. However, his performance at higher levels in the minors has tailed off from his impressive 2003-04 seasons. In 2007, he was selected to the All-Star Futures Game.

Stewart had his contract purchased on August 11, 2007, when Jeff Baker was placed on the disabled list. He made his major league debut on that same day when he started the game at third base. He was hitless in 2 at-bats but scored a run after he was hit by a pitch. His first hit was a double off Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs on August 12. He hit his first major league home run, a grand slam on August 21, 2007, against Tony Armas of the Pittsburgh Pirates, making him only the second Rockie ever to hit a grand slam as his first major league home run.

Stewart, in his limited time in the majors, endeared himself to fans by frequently signing autographs. He struggled early, striking out 28 times in his first 55 ABs, and was sent down to Colorado Springs to regain his hitting stroke. He found it once again, and was called back to the Majors on July 19. Stewart won the starting third base job when Garrett Atkins moved to first base in place for the injured Todd Helton.

Stewart received the NL Rookie of the Month award for his accomplishments in July 2008.[1][2] He hit .432 with one home run, five doubles, eight runs scored and 15 RBIs in 12 games during the month of July. He also had a .614 slugging percentage and a .519 on-base percentage.

After being the Rockies regular third baseman for most of 2009 and 2010, he split 2011 between the Majors and AAA. In parts of 5 seasons with the Rockies, he hit .236 with 54 home runs and 187 RBI in 432 games.

Chicago Cubs

On December 8, 2011, Stewart was traded from the Colorado Rockies along with Casey Weathers to the Chicago Cubs for Tyler Colvin and DJ LeMahieu.[3]

He started the season playing third base with occasional starts by Jeff Baker, another former Rockie. On July 16, 2012, Stewart underwent wrist surgery and was put on the 60-day disabled list.[4][5] In 55 games he hit .201 with 5 home runs and 17 RBI.

On December 6, 2012, Stewart re-signed a 1-year $2 million deal with the Cubs.[6] He played in 40 games with the AAA Iowa Cubs, hitting .168. In June 2013, Stewart was suspended ten games for making critical comments about the team on Twitter,[7][8] which lead to his release on June 25.[9]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 5, 2013 he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who assigned him to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes.[10] He hit just .174 in 27 games before he was released on August 12.[11]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On January 22, 2014, Stewart signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[12] Stewart won a bench role with the Angels after a strong spring training. He was designated for assignment on July 19, 2014.[13]

Washington Nationals

On December 26, 2014, Stewart signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.[14]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bnd.com/sports/baseball/story/429132.html
  2. ↑ "Stewart nabs NL Rookie honors for July – Rockies.com: News". colorado.rockies.mlb.com. Retrieved 12 Jan 2014.
  3. ↑ Woodrum, Bradley (December 9, 2011). "Cubs, Rockies Swap Ian Stewart and Tyler Colvin". Fangraphs. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Stewart has peace of mind after wrist surgery". MLB.com. July 15, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ Padilla, Doug (July 13, 2012). "Ian Stewart undergoes surgery". Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ Simon, Andrew (December 6, 2012). "Stewart, Cubs reunite with reported one year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Paul (June 11, 2013). "Stewart suspended without pay, apologizes for Twitter rant". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ Ehalt, Matt (June 16, 2013). "Ian Stewart gets 10-game suspension". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ Gonzalez, Alden (January 23, 2014). "Angels sign veteran Stewart for bench help". MLB.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ian Stewart Joins Isotopes". MILB.com. July 6, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Alfonzo Joins Isotopes". MILB.com. August 12, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  12. ↑ Baer, Bill (January 22, 2014). "Angels sign Ian Stewart to a minor league deal". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Saturday's sports transactions". UT San Diego. Associated Press. July 19, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Dan Uggla, Heath Bell to Nats". ESPN.com. December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Jair Jurrjens		 National League Rookie of the Month
July 2008 		Succeeded by
Geovany Soto