Ian Stewart (baseball)

Infobox MLB player
name = Ian Stewart


width = 250px
caption =
team = Colorado Rockies
number = 24
position = Infielder
birthdate = birth date and age|1985|4|5
birthplace = city-state|Long Beach|California
bats = Left
throws = Right
debutdate = August 11
debutyear = 2007
debutteam = Colorado Rockies
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .252
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 11
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 50
teams =
*Colorado Rockies (by|2007-present)

Ian Kenneth Stewart (born April 5, 1985 in Long Beach, California) is an infielder who plays for the Colorado Rockies.

Baseball career

Drafted in the by|2003 first round out of La Quinta High School in Westminster, California, Stewart showed great promise in short-season rookie-league ball at Casper, Wyoming in the Pioneer League. His .401 on-base percentage and .558 slugging average appeared to justify his first-round selection. In by|2004, Stewart continued to progress in low-A ball at Asheville, North Carolina 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.

Stewart's career has not continued at the same quick pace since then. In by|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, which had impressed former Rockies, Marlins, and Braves player Walt Weiss, 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 by|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 by|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 hit is first major league home run, a grand slam on August 21, 2007, against 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, has 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 since being called back to the Majors on July 19th, Stewart won the starting third base job when Garrett Atkins moved to first base in place for the injured Todd Helton, and has hit 14 of his last 29, with a home run and 12 RBIs.

Stewart received the National League Rookie of the Month award for his accomplishments in July 2008. [http://www.bnd.com/sports/baseball/story/429132.html] [http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080811&content_id=3290702&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col] He hit .432 with one home run, five doubles, eight runs scored and 15 RBI in 12 games during the month of July. He also had a .614 slugging percentage and a .519 on-base percentage.

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=456655 |espn=28722 |br=s/stewaia01 |fangraphs=5950 |cube=S/Ian-Stewart* [http://firstinning.com/players/Ian-Stewart-526/ Firstinning.com page on Ian Stewart]
* [http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=minorbase/news/BQN3440773.htm Sportsnetwork.com interview with Ian Stewart]
*MySpace|id=ianstewart24|name=Ian Stewart

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