ATLANTA — Ian Stewart, Take 3. The Rockies’ third baseman of the past will attempt to show he still has a future with the organization after returning from Triple-A again Tuesday.
“We needed a bat (with the injuries to Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki). He was the only choice we had,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “This gives him a chance to earn some credibility back.”
Chris Nelson would have been promoted but can’t rejoin the club until he spends 10 days in the minor leagues unless someone goes on the disabled list. The Rockies are trying to avoid that scenario with Gonzalez (bruised right wrist) and Tulowitzki (strained right quadriceps). With CarGo and Tulo unlikely to play until Thursday at the earliest, Stewart will receive some playing time. There are no guarantees beyond that. Outfielder Cole Garner, a former high school teammate of Stewart’s, was optioned to make room on the roster.
Stewart started Tuesday and batted seventh, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. He has been demoted on two occasions because of chilling slumps. He entered the game with three hits in 47 at-bats, statistics traced initially to lingering leg injuries and limited playing time, then to poor mechanics.
Stewart has changed his batting approach slightly, lowering his hands to his shoulder and using a more open stance.
“I know this is a prime opportunity for me,” said Stewart, who hit .269 with 14 home runs in Triple-A. “I worked with (Rene) Lachemann in the Springs on some things. He asked if I was open to it, and it’s felt pretty comfortable.”
Stewart, 26, averaged 18 home runs for the Rockies over the past three seasons. His offensive decline, coupled with Dexter Fowler’s regression, helped cripple the lineup in May. Ty Wigginton has taken ownership of the third base job, but he moved to left field Tuesday.
“I wanted his bat in the lineup,” manager Jim Tracy said of Wigginton.
Stewart’s promotion buys the Rockies some time for Gonzalez and Tulowitzki to heal. But if they can’t go by Friday, one or both might land on the DL. In the meantime, Stewart will get perhaps his best, if not last, chance to turn his season around.
