After watching Brock Stewart on the backfields of a Minor League game during Spring Training and making note of him as a potential breakout prospect in 2016, it was impossible to envision he’d pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers just three months later.
Stewart was drafted in the sixth round in 2014. He was selected as a pitcher despite throwing just 27.2 innings in college. In his debut season, the right-hander was solid out of the bullpen in rookie ball, posting a 3.41 ERA in 34.1 innings.
In 2015, Stewart converted to a starter, where he found instant success with Low-A Great Lakes, posting a 2.84 ERA in seven starts. However, he struggled after a promotion to High-A Rancho Cucamonga, surrendering a 5.43 ERA the rest of the season.
But in 2016, he turned it around, beginning the year with two dominant starts for the Quakes before heading to Double-A Tulsa.
Stewart remained with the Drillers for just 10 starts, then moved up the ladder to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Three starts later, he was in the Majors.
In his debut in Milwaukee, Stewart started off by striking out two of the first three batters he faced, but things fell apart in the second inning when he allowed five runs. Stewart lasted five innings, though the game was already out of hand.
He went back to Oklahoma City and made four starts before coming up for his Major League start. Facing the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Stewart succumbed to the elements, giving up nine runs in four innings.
After that, he began racking up frequent flyer miles by alternating starts between the Minors and Majors. Stewart finally landed back in Los Angeles for good against the Arizona Diamondbacks, going five strong innings en route to earning his first Major League win.
Overall, it was a turbulent welcome to the show for the converted infielder, but Stewart showed flashes of swing-and-miss stuff and tremendous resolve while being shuttled to and from the Minors.
2016 Highlight
In his fourth major league start, Stewart was tasked with taking on the eventual World Series champion Chicago Cubs on Aug. 28. He was up to the challenge, starting opposite Jon Lester, and posting five scoreless frames while allowing just two hits and two walks, striking out eight.
2017 Outlook
Stewart joins the cast of thousands vying for a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation next season. He has options left and has experience in both the rotation as well as the bullpen, so that’s an advantage. He should see plenty of time in the Majors in 2017.
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