The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MAJOR League Baseball spring training is in full swing and Jervis “Champ” Stuart looks to make the most of another opportunity with the New York Mets organisation.

Stuart blasted a two run home-run yesterday in Grapefruit League play as the Mets played the Detroit Tigers to a 5-5 tie at first Data Field in Port St Lucie, Florida.

He finished 1-3 on the day and through spring training thus far, he is hitting .211 with a .289 OBP, .707 OPS, four hits, one home, two runs and four RBI.

Stuart homered off Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez when he capitalised on a slider across the middle of the plate to open the scoring in a breakout third inning for the Mets.

The Mets return to the field today in a split squad matchup against both the Braves and the Astros.

Stuart, 24, was one of 13 intriguing “non-roster invitee” minor league prospects to receive an invitation to the club’s Major League spring training.

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.

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.