{"id":61674,"date":"2023-09-02T09:00:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T13:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=61674"},"modified":"2023-09-02T01:28:16","modified_gmt":"2023-09-02T05:28:16","slug":"mets-hitter-slugging-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/09\/02\/mets-hitter-slugging-roster\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets Hitter Slugging His Way To 2024 Roster"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After the trade deadline, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/08\/31\/mets-recall-third-baseman\/\" target=\"_self\">New York Mets<\/a>\u00a0decided to fill up roster spots with unknowns. Players who might not necessarily be in their plans for 2024 and are just there for filler. Gone were the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/scherma01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Scherzer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/v\/verlaju01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justin Verlander<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/roberda08.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Robertson<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/canhama01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mark Canha<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/phamth01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tommy Pham<\/a>. In their place were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/almonab01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Abraham Almonte<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mendida01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Danny Mendick<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/arauzjo01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jonathan Ara\u00faz<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/ortegra01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rafael Ortega<\/a>. All of those players were not in the plans for 2023, but they were asked to play due to the Mets having a disappointing season. It&#8217;s what happens when you have a season like the Mets are having. However, one player has stepped up and is making the most of his chance. That would be outfielder DJ Stewart.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mets Hitter Slugging His Way To 2024 Roster<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">DJ Stewart Giving The Mets Some Lefty Pop<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Back in February, Stewart signed a minor league contract with the Mets. In his career up until this point, Stewart was with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/08\/26\/felix-bautista-ucl-injury\/\" target=\"_self\">Baltimore Orioles<\/a>\u00a0from 2018-2022. In that time, he hit 26 home runs, with his highest for a season being 12 in 2021. While also driving in 73 RBI in total with Baltimore. Season-high being 33 RBI in 2021. There wasn&#8217;t much to expect out of Stewart. Who can blame people for feeling that way? He was looked at as a body and even someone taking a spot away from a younger player\u2014players such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=mauric000ron\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ronny Mauricio<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/batybr01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brett Baty<\/a>. However, Stewart has answered the call and has been red hot at the plate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">DJ Stewart&#8217;s last 13 games \ud83d\udcca<br \/><br \/>.378 AVG<br \/>8 HR<br \/>15 RBI<br \/>1.406 OPS<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Mets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Mets<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LGM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#LGM<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xcZr4obL1P\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/xcZr4obL1P<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLBNetwork\/status\/1697693424063856902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 1, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Highest SLG% by a Met in their first 35 G with the club (min. 95 PA):<br \/><br \/>Rico Brogna: .669 (&#8217;94)<br \/>Frank Thomas: .667 (&#8217;62)<br \/>Ron Swoboda: .660 (&#8217;65)<br \/>Yoenis C\u00e9spedes: .660 (&#8217;15)<br \/>Carlos Delgado: .613 (&#8217;06)<br \/>Richard Hidalgo: .604 (&#8217;04)<br \/>Gregg Jefferies: .600 (&#8217;87-88)<br \/>DJ Stewart: .585 (&#8217;23) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Nr0WQ9Fs5h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Nr0WQ9Fs5h<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 Mathew Brownstein (@MBrownstein89) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MBrownstein89\/status\/1696533446049611933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 29, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Stewart&#8217;s power from the left side of the plate has been a breath of fresh air to the Mets offense. They got little power from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mcneije01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeff McNeil<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vogelda01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Daniel Vogelbach<\/a> struggled mightily from April to late June. Brett Baty, who showed a lot of power in the minors, only amassed seven home runs before being sent back down in early August. Stewart&#8217;s nine home runs are more than McNeil and Baty each. Stewart&#8217;s hot streak would be beneficial on August 30th against the Texas Rangers in an exciting Mets win. It&#8217;s a win that now has a name from the fans in Queens.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The DJ Stewart Game<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For Mets fans, there has been little to celebrate in 2023. So, any game like this one will be fun to look back on during the cold winter. The Rangers took the first two games from the Mets and looked for a sweep. On this night, Stewart put the Mets on his back. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the big Mets left-handed hitters would go back-to-back. First, Vogelbach smashed his 13th home run of the season, followed shortly by Stewart. Giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">DJ, TURN IT UP! \ud83c\udfb6 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZTX7cmwnMd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ZTX7cmwnMd<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 New York Mets (@Mets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Mets\/status\/1697022270718296421?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 30, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p>The Mets would take a 3-0 lead, but the Rangers would rally to go up 5-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th. With a runner on and 1-out, Stewart struck again,\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">DJ DID IT AGAIN \u203c\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TDEJMShRA0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/TDEJMShRA0<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 New York Mets (@Mets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Mets\/status\/1697054612606382389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 31, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p>He also flashed some leather on defense. Saving the game for the Mets and keeping it tied up going into extra innings.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Is there anything DJ can&#8217;t do?!? \ud83e\udd2f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MjnujRaGWt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/MjnujRaGWt<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 New York Mets (@Mets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Mets\/status\/1697057868178976904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 31, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p>Then in the bottom of the 10th with the bases loaded against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chapmar01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aroldis Chapman<\/a>, Stewart got the job done without even swinging a bat.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We love this song, DJ \ud83d\ude0e <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uNZ3rBaUn1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/uNZ3rBaUn1<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 New York Mets (@Mets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Mets\/status\/1697067374376026190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 31, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">THE DJ STEWART GAME. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MetsWin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#MetsWin<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LGM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#LGM<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/b5Mfuk8IyW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/b5Mfuk8IyW<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 New York Mets (@Mets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Mets\/status\/1697066323744903342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 31, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Stewart&#8217;s Chances Of Being On The 2024 Roster<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As fun as this has been watching Stewart hit bombs, he&#8217;s never been on a roll like this in his career. He has some pop but never did anything like this in Baltimore. For Stewart, there is still a lot he has to show the Mets to justify being in the plans for next year. That will require having a strong September. If he can continue this momentum, he can be a good left-handed power bat off the bench next season and be a designated hitter from the left side of the plate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After the trade deadline, the New York Mets\u00a0decided to fill up roster spots with unknowns. Players who might not necessarily be in their plans for 2024 and are just there for filler. Gone were the likes of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Robertson, Mark Canha, and Tommy Pham. In their place were Abraham Almonte, Danny [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4682,"featured_media":61741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,1071],"tags":[209,1275,4205,247,1081,79,164,1087],"class_list":["post-61674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mets","category-mlb","tag-aroldis-chapman","tag-david-robertson","tag-dj-stewart","tag-justin-verlander","tag-mark-canha","tag-max-scherzer","tag-new-york-mets","tag-tommy-pham"],"modified_by":"Evan Mazza, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4682"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61674"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61674\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}