The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAMP Stuart has made an immediate impression in the Arizona Fall League through games thus far for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

In his latest outing, Stuart blasted a solo home run in the Scorpions’ 8-1 loss to the Surprise Saguaros.

Stuart finished 1-3 with one RBI and a run scored.

In his AFL debut on Wednesday, he finished 2-5 with two stolen bases in a 6-4 loss to the Salt River Rafters.

Stuart continues his rise in the New York Mets organisation when he was named to the Scorpions roster for the Offseason Arizona Fall League.

The Scorpions have MLB affiliations with the Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels.

“He rates at the top of the scouting scale [as a] runner,” MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo recently wrote of Stuart.

“A former multi-sport standout, the other part of his game are a bit raw, but he’s not without tools. He’s willing to work counts and draw walks, knowing his job is to get on base. He has some strength, unlike some pure speed guys, giving hope that there’s some hitting ability to be unlocked.”

In 2016, Stuart had a season of several milestones, including an appearance as a pinch runner in the final Grapefruit League game for the Mets in spring training and a stellar season with the Port St Lucie Mets in Single-A Advanced which led to a Double-A call up with the Binghamton Mets.

“Obviously it’s a privilege and an honour to be here with the Mets. I’m just happy to be here, to put on a uniform again and be playing ball again.

“To play among the best in the minor leagues, it’s really fun right now,” Stuart told Adam Rubin of ESPN.

“There’s’ a lot of room for improvement to get better. I went up to Double-A this year but there’s definitely more in the tank and more room for improvement so I’m definitely looking forward it,” he said.

“A lot of Mets fans supported me during the Classic, it was a lot of fun to get different guys from different nationalities playing the game of baseball. It’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”

Through 114 games in both leagues, Stuart hit .240 with 34 RBI and eight home runs.

He has also totalled an on-base percentage of .319, slugging percentage of .349 an OPS of .663 and 40 stolen bases.

This summer, Stuart was one of 10 Bahamian players to compete for Team Great Britain at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Brooklyn, New York.

During the tournament, he hit .467 with an PS of 1.233, OBP of .500, with three RBI and 11 total bases.