Josh Stewart
| IP | 33 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 8.182 |
| WHIP | 1.909 |
| BB/9 | 5.182 |
| SO/9 | 4.909 |
- Full name Joshua Craig Stewart
- Born 12/05/1978 in Paducah, KY
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Memphis
- Debut 04/06/2003
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Drafted in the 5th round (159th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 1999.
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LHP Josh Stewart made the greatest leap forward. He had little command of his pitches for three years but was a totally different pitcher this year. He took a little speed off his fastball in order to begin throwing quality strikes.
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Stewart probably doesn't know whether to laugh or cry when he thinks back to 2003. He followed up a breakout season in 2002 with a typically unflappable performance in his first big league spring training. He challenged hitters the same way he had in the Arizona Fall League and got results. In fact, he took advantage of an injury to Danny Wright to leave Tucson as the Chicago's fifth starter. He beat Cleveland to pick up his first major league win before taking a line drive from Jeff Conine in the chest in his next start. Stewart missed a turn and then got pounded by Seattle and was sent to Triple-A, where he bothered by a circulatory problem in his left hand and worked just 26 more innings. Stewart lost his grip on both the ball and his spot on the 40-man roster. When he's right, he throws in the high 80s and has a plus curveball. He changes speeds and locations to keep hitters off balance. If Stewart is healthy and can recapture his 2002 magic, he can pitch himself back into the Sox' good graces this year. -
Stewart earned a 40-man roster spot with a breakout season in 2002 as he helped his teams win Southern League and Arizona Fall League championships. He especially opened eyes in the AFL, where he was second to White Sox teammate David Sanders with a 0.81 ERA and won the title game, allowing only one unearned run over six innings. Though there's nothing overly impressive about Stewart's stuff, his overall package reminds some of Mike Sirotka, the lefty who won 15 games for the 2000 Sox before tearing his labrum. Command and confidence are Stewart's keys. He throws in the high 80s and has a plus curveball. He changes speeds, moves the ball in and out on hitters and works at the bottom of the strike zone. Stewart needs to follow up with a strong 2003 season in Triple-A to put himself in the big league picture, either with the White Sox or for an interested organization elsewhere.
