Skip to main content

Stewart hits walk-off grand slam for Clearwater

By

Stepping up to the plate with the bases loaded, trailing by a pair of runs in the 11th inning, Clearwater first baseman D.J. Stewart did so 0-for-5.  His focus at the plate was no different that time than it had been the previous handfull of turns.  Make loud contact was the approach.  The contact was loud, the reaction from his team and the approximately 1,100 fans in attendance was louder.  

A convincing round-tripper in that moment plated Edgar Made, Johan Rojas, Luis Garcia and Stewart.  It gave the Class A Threshers their first win on the young season by a score of 13-11 over the Tigers affiliate Lakeland. 

The grand slam was the 22-year-old's first ever four-run homer as well as his first ever walk-off hit as a professional.

Describing the feeling of walking a game off in such a remarkable fashion as unreal and realizing that his teammates were as hyped for him as he felt personally, Stewart also described the "loud contact" mindset as a new focus.

"This year I really wanted to focus on hitting the ball harder and getting some more doubles and home runs.  I'm a third baseman and a first baseman, so I need to show a little bit more pop in the bat that I haven't in previous years," Stewart expressed via text message.

Lakeland reliever Jack Dellinger, a 2019 32nd rounder, was the pitcher that surrendered Stewart's crushing blow.

"I never faced him before, to my knowledge," Stewart said.  "We didn't have any info on him, so I was going into the at bat blind."

Stewart was the Phillies' 39th round draft selection in 2017 out of Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis, MO.  

Through two games the six-foot-two 205-pounded righty batter is 2-for-9.  

The grand slam matches the amount of big flies Stewart recorded in his first 92 regular season minor league games played prior to Wednesday.  

Last year's top Phillies draft choice, starting pitcher Mick Abel did not factor in the decision.  The 19-year-old tossed 2 1/3 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out two.

Also in the contest catcher Abrahan Gutierrez was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and the center fielder Rojas went 2-for-6 with a double and three RBI.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Prospect Nation 2012: #1 RHP Trevor May

By
With a massively impressive campaign in 2011 for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, right-handed starting pitcher Trevor May locked down his spot as Philadelphia's top prospect and is on the fast track toward the big leagues. He is the reigning Paul Owens Award winner, given to the top pitcher and player in the Phillies' developmental system each year. In 27 starts with the Threshers in 2011, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA, while striking out a Florida State League leading 208 batters in 151 1/3 innings. He also held opposing hitters to a .221 average. The Phillies' 4th round draft pick from 2008, May earned the win in the 50th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Bright House Field last year. He also was twice named FSL Pitcher of the Week and earned Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. After signing with Philadelphia, May helped lead the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies to a championship in 2008. In 5 regular
Post a Comment
Read more

World Series Preview: Phillies vs. Astros

By
The Fall Classic is set to get underway on Friday with the Phillies opening on the road to take on the Astros in a best-of-seven series. This year marks 75 years since the first time a World Series was televised and this year each game will be broadcast on the FOX television network.  ESPN will have the radio broadcast and that feed can be streamed by using this link . Game 1 Friday, 8:03pm Eastern....in Houston.  RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA).  In 16 road starts during the regular season this year, Nola notched a 5-9 record with a 3.00 ERA.  Nola has struck out 18 and walked three in 17 1/3 innings pitched this postseason.  Earlier this month, Nola tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Houston.  In 15 home starts during the regular season, Verlander sported a 10-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.  Verlander has a 5.68 ERA and has not recorded a win in seven career World Series starts.  Verlander has 11 starts allowing one run or fewer in
Post a Comment
Read more

PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Ben Brown talks TJ recovery, O'Hoppe, cancelled season

By
Image- MiLB.com Out of action since last May when it was determined he required Tommy John surgery, righty pitching prospect Ben Brown is using the downtime of the pandemic hiatus to continue his physical recovery.  A 33rd round draft selection of the Phillies back in 2017, Brown made his professional debut that same year, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 10 appearances in the rookie level Gulf Coast League.  The following season, Brown began to make a name for himself in the GCL, striking out 16 batters in one July appearance.  He would post a 3.12 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 10 games (eight starts) before earning a promotion and finishing the season with a pair of outings with Class A short-season Williamsport. Brown, a Long Island, NY native, opened last year with Class A Lakewood.  In four appearances with the BlueClaws, he struck out 20, walked four and allowed no runs in 13 2/3 innings and looked well on his way to making an impact on betting odds and available promo codes
Post a Comment
Read more