That door blocking Ian Stewart’s path from Triple-A and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to the major leagues and the Rockies has come off its hinges.
The 23-year-old, lefty-swinging Sky Sox third baseman was knocking hard and waiting for the door to open. The combination of the knocking and an injury to shortstop Clint Barmes unlocked the door, and Stewart arrived in the Rockies’ dugout Saturday as one of the hottest and most productive hitters in the organization.
In the last two weeks, Stewart has put on a hitting show that included 21 RBIs, two games with six RBIs each and back-to-back hitter of the week awards in the Pacific Coast League. He also had a five-RBI game earlier in the season.
But RBIs aren’t the only gauge of Stewart’s rise to the Rockies’ roster. His 43 RBIs in 171 at-bats lead the Rockies’ farm system and the PCL as well. His 41 runs scored lead the organization and are tied for the league lead, as do his six triples. His 12 home runs lead the organization and are tied for third in the league.
Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd was asked about Stewart’s time. He said the door would open when Stewart knocked it down to get in.
“It’s not up to me to decide if I’m knocking the door down,” said Stewart, the Rockies’ first-round draft pick and 10th player overall in the June 2003 draft. “I like to think I am, to an extent. I don’t think that I’m doing something special or crazy. I’m just having the type of year I’m capable of.”
The numbers might say it was time to give Stewart his chance to live up to the status of a No. 1 draft pick. But there was Garrett Atkins, firmly entrenched at third base in the Rockies’ lineup, and he’s one of the big-league team’s best hitters.
Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells had the answer.
“There’s no secret that we’ve had Ian taking balls in the outfield and at second base in practice,” Runnells said. “I haven’t been given any direct order to play him in games at other positions. He could play anywhere. He’s a good athlete.”
Stewart played in 35 games for the Rockies last season, and his playing time this year could come at other positions as well as spelling Atkins at third base.
Runnells sees an upscale talent.
“At times, he can carry a ballclub offensively,” Runnells said. “There’s no question he’ll be a good defensive player at third base or wherever he might play. He’s capable of doing some big things in the future.”
But with 14 errors on the books with the Sky Sox, Runnells wanted his third baseman to sharpen his defensive play.
“Our players here have to learn the importance of playing good defense if they’re going into the National League,” Runnells said. “Ian’s been working hard on his defense and he has been better over the last couple of weeks.”
“I feel as if I’m ready,” Stewart said Friday after returning to Colorado Springs from a PCL road trip. “I’m down here tightening up some things. I guess six years is a long time to be in the minor leagues. But I’m not old. I just turned 23.”
Some players have moved up faster. Injured shortstop Troy Tulowitzki played his first full major-league season in 2007 with just two minor-league seasons after he being a first-round draft pick in ’05.
Stewart said team needs could vary in urgency at each position.
“Garrett Atkins is a great player, and if they sign him to a long-term deal, maybe there’s a position change in my future,” Stewart said. “I’d play whatever position gets me to the big leagues the quickest. It might take an offseason to learn to play it. It would be a difficult transition to learn in the big-league season.”
Runnells suggests that Stewart could make a statement by being the MVP of the Pacific Coast League. But Stewart might not be a contender.
“I hope I’m not down here long enough to get that award,” Stewart said. His hopes came true a day later.
Organizational leaders
(Through Thursday)
HITTING: (35 games) Matt Miller, Tulsa, .348; Cole Garner, Modesto, .329.
RUNS: Ian Stewart, Colorado Springs, 41; Brian Rike, Asheville, 39.
HITS: Darin Holcomb, Asheville, 59; Miller, Tulsa, 57.
DOUBLES: Joe Koshansky, Colorado Springs, 15; Holcomb, Asheville, 15.
TRIPLES: Stewart, Colorado Springs, 6; Dexter Fowler, Tulsa, 4.
HOME RUNS: Stewart, Colorado Springs, 12; Rike, Asheville, 9.
RBIs: Stewart, Colorado Springs, 43; Jeffrey Cunningham, Asheville, 38.
STOLEN BASES: Everth Cabrera, Asheville, 29; Corey Wimberly, 18.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Jhoulys Chacin, Asheville, 7; Esmil Rogers, Modesto, 5; Aneury Rodriguez, Modesto, 5; Cory Riordan, Asheville, 5.
LOSSES: Simon Ferrer, Modesto, 7; Keith Weiser, Modesto, 6.
SAVES: Randall Taylor, Asheville, 13; Andrew Johnston, Modesto, 10.
INNINGS: Chacin, Asheville, 69; Riordan, Asheville, 62 2/3.
WALKS: Shane Lindsay, Modesto, 32; Ferrer, Modesto, 30.
STRIKEOUTS: Chacin, Asheville, 64; Riordan, Asheville, 60.
ERA: (starters) Chacin, Asheville, 1.70; Connor Graham, Asheville, 2.42 (relievers); Andrew Johnston, Modesto, 0.00; Joey Williamson, Asheville, 1.20.
