JUPITER, Fla. — DJ Stewart has held this role before.
He said the Mets have outfield depth, that they’ve signed some players and gotten others back, and that his placement in the ongoing competition or overall roster position will continue into March. We understand things are still in flux with spring training.
That’s almost exactly the same as in 2023, when he relied on being shocked for a month in a lost campaign.
For 30 days, DJ Stewart was a bright spot for the Mets.
He batted .329 with a 1.133 OPS from August 15 to September. Stewart hit 15 home runs and added 10 home runs and 23 RBIs, but his numbers plummeted after that, going hitless in his final six starts.
Stewart was trying to avoid worrying about where he would start the season.
He has tried to make the most of every element of his skill set, mixing in reps in right field and left field with occasional first baseman duties at the Mets’ complex.
His swings are dynamic and powerful at times, and he could be an option as a designated hitter.
However, the Mets expect Starling Marte to be available once he recovers.
They signed Harrison Bader to play center field, but of course they still have Brandon Nimmo. Tyrone Taylor was impressed. Trayce Thompson flashed potential.
That mix of depth complicated Stewart’s path to the roster ahead of the Mets’ final roster decision.
“At the end of the day, they’re going to make the decision that’s best for the team. Whether it’s me or someone else, I’m always ready,” Stewart said of Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Marlins. He spoke to the Post before the win. Stewart went 0-for-4 in this game, dropping his spring training average to .118.
The Mets had a new manager, but hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez watched from the dugout as Stewart wept on Buck Showalter’s staff.
According to Stewart, this is one of the best numbers of his career, and some of it came from regular at-bats. He wasn’t in formation. After the trade deadline, the right field position belonged to Stewart.
As Stewart told MLB.com last month, the toe tap helped him unlock his swing, but the 30-year-old told the Post he stumbled upon the tweak during practice.
One coach shot a plyo ball at Stewart with a basketball-like shot, and Stewart waited, and kept waiting, for it to arc toward him. Training aimed at eliminating lunges became an integral part of his swing.
But Stewart may not have had the opportunity to achieve that success over an entire MLB season yet.
Friday’s performance didn’t solve his case. “Obviously, versatility is important,” coach Carlos Mendoza said, and that remains Stewart’s strength.
But there’s still the immediate threat that even if you get a bad tear in one month, it won’t definitely be spot on in six months.
“I don’t think of it as a No. 4 outfielder, starting outfielder, anything like that,” Stewart said. “It’s just, ‘This is what I can do.’ If it helps the team win, I think that’s the best thing for me.”
