Will Stewart (Marlins)

Stats: MiLB | B-Ref | Fangraphs | Baseball America | Baseball Prospectus

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2019 Preseason (#22)

Role: #4 Starter
Risk: High – Stewart does not have any true plus pitches, however he has strong underlying contact and control numbers. He will need to maintain this plus control and high ground ball rates to be a more than an up and down starter.
Summary: It has been a slow growth path for Stewart, who was young and raw when he was drafted by the Phillies in 2015. By 2016, his fastball velocity increased to its current 90-93. The pitch has long had good run and generated ground balls at a high rate. In 2018, his secondary pitches took a big step forward. His changeup will show above average potential and has great armside fade. He also added a slider in place of his curveball, and while it is a bit loopy, it is tough on lefties because of his arm angle. Stewart throws from a crossfire delivery and low arm slot, making it very tough for lefties to pick up the ball. Additionally, Stewart’s command took a step forward in 2018, and he was able to fill the strike zone with all three pitches. None of his offerings are real bat missers, and he will need one of them to take that step forward in order for him to be more than a back end starter. Stewart’s real calling card is a ground ball rate among the highest in the minors, which has allowed him to put up good numbers even without the strikeouts. He is still pretty young (he turns 22 in July) and has a bit more room to add muscle, but he is unlikely to add a lot of velocity. It is pretty easy to see Stewart’s floor as an effective lefty reliever because of his delivery, but for now he should stay in a rotation.
2019 Outlook: Stewart will start the year in Clearwater, but if he repeats his Lakewood season he will move quickly to AA.

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Another 1-2-3 for Stewart, featuring his second K, this time on slow hook. FB 89-92 in the 4th. Up to 50 pitches (33 strikes) pic.twitter.com/As1d43o86X

— Jeff Israel (@JeffIsrael90) May 24, 2018

Will Stewart with unconventional 1-2-3 after ininning ending strike em out throw em out. FB 91-93, good looking change pic.twitter.com/4AHgHJ8xKR

— Jeff Israel (@JeffIsrael90) May 24, 2018

Will Stewart strikes out second round pick JJ Matijevic in a two strikeout first inning pic.twitter.com/1QCQuILTN1

— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) August 12, 2017

Pretty curveball from Will Stewart for his sixth strikeout of the night pic.twitter.com/vc9350TndE

— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) August 12, 2017

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• Phillies Minor Thoughts

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