The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAMP Stuart continues to progress in the New York Mets organisation and will have another opportunity to progress with the franchise.

Stuart, 24, was one of 13 intriguing minor league prospects to receive an invitation to the club’s Major League spring training next month.

Pitchers and catchers will report to St Lucie, Florida on February 12 followed by Stuart and the other position players one week later. Organised Grapefruit League action begins on February 24, with the Mets playing their first home game one day later, against the Washington Nationals.

Following a stellar regular season, Stuart was named to the roster of the Scottsdale Scorpions of 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.

The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in the minor leagues.

Late in the minor league seasons, MLB clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will participate in the AFL. Most are Double-A and Triple-A players.

The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game.

In 19 games, Stuart hit .300 with 12 runs scored, five RBI, 12 stolen bases an OBP of.329 and OPS of .729 with one home run.

In 2016 he 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.

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

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

Last 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.