The DJ Stewart Game

Though the Mets still have a month to play in the 2023 season, the focus has shifted to 2024. They are currently 61-73 and sit 8.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot. The Mets have given a number of veteran players opportunities to showcase themselves in August, but nobody has capitalized on the opportunity quite like DJ Stewart.

Stewart had another big night in Wednesday’s 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers. He went 2-for-4, launching two more home runs, drove in four runs, made a game-saving catch, and brought home the winning run with a walk-off hit-by-pitch.

Stewart got his excellent night started in his first at-bat of the game. Stewart turned on an up-and-in fastball from Dane Dunning for his eighth homer of the season and the second of back-to-back homers with Daniel Vogelbach to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

With one out in the eighth inning and the Mets trailing 5-3, Stewart came to the plate against Jose Leclerc as the tying run. Like Dunning, Leclerc challenged Stewart with a fastball up. Like Dunning, Leclerc saw his high fastball soar over the right field wall. Stewart’s second home run of the night, a two-run shot, tied the game with the Mets down to their last five outs.

After turning the game around with his bat in the bottom of the eighth, Stewart decided it was time to make an impact with his glove. With the speedy Leody Taveras on first base, Marcus Semien hit a fly ball to the wall in right field. Stewart made a running catch while crashing into the wall to rob the Rangers’ second baseman of what would have been at least an RBI double, leading to the Citi Field fans chanting his name.

“It was awesome,” Stewart said of the fans’ cheers. “For me to start the season in Syracuse and come up here and hear that, it’s really awesome.”

With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Stewart had a chance to finish his incredible day against Aroldis Chapman. Stewart had understandably struggled against Chapman in his career, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in four at-bats. Fortunately for Stewart, he did not have to do much to be the hero. Chapman’s first pitch hit Stewart on the elbow to give Stewart his fourth RBI of the game and give the Mets the walk-off win.

“I’ve faced him a lot with Baltimore and not much success,” Stewart said. “So if he’s going to give it to me, I’m going to take it.”

There isn’t much more that can be said about Stewart’s hot streak other than that it is simply incredible. In August, Stewart hit .303/.378/.727 with eight home runs in 66 at-bats. Those numbers are even more incredible when you remember that he began the month going just 3-for-21 while dealing with a wrist injury. In his last 13 games, Stewart has hit .378/.429/.978 with all eight of his homers this month coming in that stretch.

“I feel really good about the work that I’m putting in in the cage,” Stewart told SNY’s Steve Gelbs following the win. “I’m confident that it’s working … When you’re confident and you go into the box, it slows down for you.”

The 29-year-old is playing for his next contract after signing a one-year minor league deal with the Mets in February. While he did not have much success in the beginning of his MLB career in Baltimore, Stewart is showing the tools that got him selected in the first round of the 2015 draft. Time will tell if this run is a flash in the pan or if Stewart finds his footing in MLB as a late bloomer, but it has likely earned Stewart a contract with somebody for 2024, and he would like it to be with the Mets.

“I love New York.” Stewart said. “I really enjoy being here. My family enjoys it, so I’m hoping I’m doing enough to stay here. I’m playing for everyone, but I’d like to be here.”