X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Christin Stewart - Are We Undervaluing This Powerful Prospect?

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Christin Stewart has seen his fantasy baseball ADP fall dramatically in 2019. Riley Mrack examines whether this powerful OF bat is being undervalued.

There’s an undeniable sense of pride that we get as fantasy managers from rostering that brand new stud or breakout star. Owning these tantalizing players makes up for those busts on your squad that you wish you had never even heard of before the season started. Drafting one of these letdowns is an ongoing headache as they bring pain and agony into checking the box scores. When we nail our breakout picks on draft-day, the common instinct is to brag among our peers every time our player hits a home run or makes an outstanding play on the field. Some of us take the high road on this matter and only boast on the inside, but either way you slice it, you can’t help that certain sense of self-gratification. When it comes to these flashy athletes, the more unrecognized, the better.

In 2019, Christin Stewart could be that guy you proudly hang your hat on as a fantasy owner. While the majority of eyes are on top hitting prospects like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Eloy Jimenez, Stewart is entering early fantasy baseball drafts as a relative unknown. Failing to make marquee top prospects lists, the outfielder has put up big numbers and displayed an impressive skill set in the Detroit Tigers farm system. The two-time Tigers Minor League Player Of The Year has nothing left to prove in Triple-A and is ready to make an impact in the majors.

After getting a September call-up last season, Stewart made a seamless transition to major league pitching. With fantasy enthusiasts focusing attention on the football season and a destitute Tigers team not drawing much of a viewing crowd, he went nearly unnoticed during his Major League debut. It’s time to get acquainted with the recently turned 25-year-old.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Minor League Skills

As a result of losing Max Scherzer to free-agency, Detroit selected Stewart with their first-round compensation pick in the 2015 MLB draft. What makes him so appealing as a batter is his astounding power and his innate ability to get on base. Starting his 2016 season in High-A, he crushed 24 homers in 104 games while posting an impressive .264/.403/.534 triple slash line. While the batting average isn’t necessarily jaw-dropping, his OBP was stellar, as a cool 16.7% BB% contributed to it. Stewart finished his 2016 at Double-A Erie, clubbing another six bombs in his 24 games for good measure.

The left-handed swinger followed up his 30-HR season with a strong encore performance with Erie in 2017. Belting another 28 bombs in 136 games, he did see his slash line take a dip to .256/.335/.501. A less patient approach at the plate was the main factor for this decline as he registered a 10.1% BB%, but still a respectable number. Graduating to Triple-A in 2018, Stewart balanced out his overall game. Cutting down on his strikeouts, he dropped his K% by over 4% from 2017 to a 20.7% K% in Toledo.

With this improvement, he also restored his patience when he saw his walks elevate back up to a 12.8% BB%. This 0.62 BB/K was very impressive for a power hitter seeing how the 2018 major league average was just 0.38 BB/K. Stewart wrapped up his season slashing .264/.364/.480 while tacking on another 23 big flys in 122 games. After earning a big league promotion, the time had come to see how he’d fare under the big league lights.

 

Major League Thrills

Stewart proved he wasn’t out of his element in his short stint with the Tigers. In his first career start on September 10, he collected his first big-league souvenir as he got a single off Justin Verlander. He continued to hit, getting a knock in nearly every one of his 16 starts finishing with a batting line close to his minor league pace (.267/.375/.417). The power numbers didn’t translate immediately, but on September 20, he launched not one, but two long balls into the Comerica Park bleachers as he capped a six-RBI performance. Not being overmatched by major league pitching, he continued his strong plate discipline numbers. Stewart paired his dynamite 13.9% BB% with an equally as attractive 18.1% K%. Already owning the solid plate discipline skills is a plus attribute for any young hitter beginning their career.

Although Stewart caught up to major league heat without issue, he faltered against breaking pitches with a 37.1% Whiff% and a .176 AVG. He did, however, clobber a slider for one of his home runs. Not being fooled by changeups, the Georgia native also knocked one of these into the stands as he hit all off-speed deliveries to a .417 AVG. Albeit these are small sample sizes, but Stewart transitioned to the majors as almost the identical player that he was in the minors.

 

Get Your 2019 Fills

With some maturation in strength and growth of knowledge that will come with experience, Stewart has the prepackaged power and on-base tools that can make him a sizeable threat in a big league lineup. We know that these tools are more than able to be sustained moving forward as they’ve continued to travel with Stewart at every professional stop. But what else can be expected from the overall game of the 6’0”, 205-pounder?

Stewart possesses decent speed, but don't count on stolen bases as he’s never eclipsed three thefts in a season before. His .262 lifetime batting average in the minor leagues remains a target for his major league production. Predominantly a pull hitter in the minors, it doesn’t bode well for a left-hander in the bigs with ball clubs enforcing the extreme defensive shifts. He did happen to hit the ball to the opposite field at a higher rate during his stint in Detroit which was good news for him. Whether it was just the small sample size to draw from or perhaps different coaching from the Tigers staff, it will be something to keep an eye on during spring training.

His line-drive rates from the farm levels are on par with the major league averages, as well as his hard-hit percentages. The youngster does hit the ball in the air more often though, with a mark in the 43% range over the last couple of seasons compared to the 2018 major league average of 35.4%. Stewart resembles the game of fellow left-hander Max Muncy. Not only do they match up physically to another, but Muncy also had a comparable minor league career slash line of .276/.382/.438. Carrying a bit more average and less slugging than Stewart, Muncy had eerily similar line-drive, hard-hit and pull rates in his minor league career. It took a bit longer for him to reach the majors at age 27, but we know the kind of numbers he put up in his first full year as a Dodger last year.

Stewart saw all of his 2018 starts with the Tigers batting in the second spot of the order. Moving forward to 2019, he is probable to remain in this spot as his on-base skills can only be matched by the heart of the order bats Nick Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera. With no other true competition for outfield spots, he should spend every day as the regular left fielder as well. Remaining in the two-hole will undoubtedly be a tremendous boost to his overall counting stats. The strong ability to generate the free pass and good hitting prowess will put him in an excellent position to score runs with Castellanos and Cabrera behind him. The potential to be at least a 25 home run bat at this level helps out his RBI case, but his opportunities won't be as abundant with a weak bottom of the order that won’t turn much over to him. Continuing to keep his strikeouts in check is vital to maximizing his batting average as well as his ability to be able to beat the shift by hitting the ball to more than just the right side.

Currently, Stewart is being selected at an ADP of 362, right next to teammate Jeimer Candelario. This draft spot is very low-risk compared to Guerrero Jr. and Jimenez. Both of these players are going in the top 100 of some drafts, and they are uncertain to start the year with their big league teams. Although the ceiling isn’t quite as high for Stewart compared to these other young stars, the floor is similar in re-draft leagues. If you land the Tigers rookie this year, be the person who will be boasting, not the person that will be agonizing.

More Fantasy Baseball Sleepers and Breakouts




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Back in Action to Begin Second Half
Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF