Detroit Tigers Top Prospect Countdown: #8 Christin Stewart

The Detroit Tigers prospect Christin Stewart is a man on the move. In his one season with the team, he moved from the Lakeland Flying Tigers to the Connecticut Tigers to the West Michigan Whitecaps. Not only did he quickly move through these three Single-A squads, but he also managed to help the Whitecaps win the 2015 Midwest League Championship.

This young outfielder was the 34th draft pick in 2015. He played for the University of Tennessee for three years where he had a batting average of .319, 23 home runs, and 113 RBIs in 540 at-bats. In 2014 and 2015, he was named an All-SEC First Team Outfielder. He was frequently recognized for his hitting ability by organizations like Louisville Slugger, Baseball America, and the SEC. As a prep player at Province Christian Academy in Lilburn, Georgia, Stewart hit 69 home runs, which is the current record in Georgia (he shares the honor with Micah Owings).

Stewart is a player to watch. As he moved through the 2015 minor league season, he continued to build his reputation at the plate. During the 10 games he played in the Midwest League postseason, he hit .368 and in Game 5 of the semifinals, his go-ahead single against the Lansing Lugnuts moved the Whitecaps into the championship series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. 

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Of course, Stewart could not do all of this alone. The 2015 Whitecaps was full of other prospects that gelled on the field. As of publication, Stewart will return to the Whitecaps for the 2016 season. He will join his 2015 teammates catcher Kade Scivicque, second baseman Joey Pankake, pitchers Joe Jimenez and Spencer Turnbull,  and right fielder Mike Gerber. This team will be one to watch, but get to the early games, because several of these players will be moving up to the Double-A Erie Seawolves in the blink of an eye.

Even though the Detroit Tigers have a fully loaded outfield, Christin Stewart could find himself on the team sooner rather than later. He prefers to play left-field and he has also occasionally hit in the DH spot. The current Detroit left fielder, Justin Upton, has an opt-out clause after his second year with the team. By this time, Stewart will be well seasoned and ready to step in at left field.

Stewart knows how to bring it when it counts. He recognized his own weaknesses in his freshman and sophomore years. But he knew that if he did not become more aggressive at the plate he might not make it to the big leagues. He took his experiences from his freshman and sophomore year and turned it all around. He said: “I had a lot more experience. I was a lot more confident at the plate. Working out those two years in the off-season, getting bigger and stronger, the ball flew out of the yard.” He ended that junior year playing in 50 games with a 1.076 OPS and 47 RBIs.

The Detroit Tigers quickly recognized the potential in the 22-year-old outfielder. They gave him the full slot value of $1.7 million. Stewart has not disappointed. If he is not yet on your radar, it is time to put him there.