DJ Stewart began the season with 16 hitless at bats, including six strikeouts. Getting off to a good start was crucial for him, especially with J.D. Martinez waiting in the wings to be team’s primary designated hitter. Stewart was looking for a hit in a big spot to jumpstart his season, and that hit would eventually come in a 8-7 road win over the Atlanta Braves on April 8. The absence of Martinez was felt for the first nine games, but this recent surge from the former Baltimore Oriole has completely changed the short-term outlook.
Entering Saturday’s game, over the last nine games, Stewart was slashing .368/.435/.947 (1.382 OPS) with three home runs and 10 RBIs. He added three walks on Saturday, increasing his season on-base percentage to a staggering .432. His power from the middle of the order has been key in team’s recent success. Stewart has now recorded a hit in five of his last seven starts, a huge boost for the Mets’ offense. It couldn’t have come at a better time, as the team is now 12-3 over their last 15 games.
Stewart is hitting the ball harder than he ever has, which has certainly played a role in his positive impact. Prior to Saturday’s game, his 91.3 mph average exit velocity and 50.00% hard-hit rate are both career highs. When Stewart makes contact, it tends to be a fly ball more often than not, owning a 45.00% fly ball rate. His previous career-high in that category was a 31 percent fly ball rate, all the way back in 2018.
DJ Stewart. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest question around Stewart is how will his role change once Martinez is set to join the team? David Stearns brought Martinez in for $12 million over one year and he has been an All-Star in three consecutive season, so he appears to have a lot left in the tank. He will not only be the primary designated hitter, but should be in the lineup close to everyday. What does that mean for Stewart?
He has a fair amount of experience in either corner outfield spot, making nearly double the start in right field. In total, 40 of his 42 starts were out in right last season, so if he were to play the field, that would be the spot. However, how did he fair in that role?
Over the course of his career, Stewart has played 985 2/3 innings in right field. He has negative-11 defensive runs saved and negative-five outs above average. Certainly subpar figures. Can he play there once a week? Sure. However, to suggest that he can displace Starling Marte or take away at-bats from Tyrone Taylor, due to his stellar fielding, seems a bit unrealistic.
This is a good problem to have for manager Carlos Mendoza. Stewart’s run of good at-bats makes it difficult to take him out of the lineup. The Mets need to find a role for him, even if that means starting once or twice a week. Stewart making an impact as a bench bat could be in play as well. Martinez’s timetable to join the team is still unclear, given his recent setback. But once he recovers from back tightness, Stewart’s role is set to change dramatically.
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