Right-hander Brock Stewart was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft out of Illinois State University. From a baseball family, he had been picked by the New York Mets in the 40th round of the 2010 June Draft along with his older brother Luke, who was a 20th round pick – also by the Mets. Luke Stewart signed with the Mets and is still working his way through their minor league system.

Upon graduating from Normal West High School in Normal, Illinois the younger Stewart began a three year college career with the Illinois State Redbirds. During his first two years of college ball he played third base but made a transition to the mound in his junior year at the urging of the Redbirds pitching coach and an understanding of his own skill set.

I always knew my arm was my best tool,” Stewart said. “I’m glad Coach Mohl (former ISU pitching coach Bill Mohl) forced me to get out there on the mound. After a while, I learned to love it. We’ll see how far it takes me.”

Working primarily as a reliever and armed with a 90 mph fastball, Stewart fashioned a 3-2 record and a 2.36 ERA in 2014. He appeared in 11 games and struck out 30 in 26 2/3 innings. He made one start for the Redbirds and to describe it as fortuitous might be an understatement. Starting against Wichita State and first-round draft choice Casey Gillaspie in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Stewart limited the Shockers to two hits and one run in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one. The tournament had attracted a bevy of major league baseball scouts so his one college start in his inaugural season as a pitcher garnered him the attention he needed to be drafted as high as the sixth round by the Dodgers.

Stewart had the same nervous jitters as one expects most youngsters do on draft day although he was trying his best to stay relaxed. His brother Luke had a bit of time on that day to visit home in Normal and was there when Brock’s name was called, as was his mother.

“I hear ‘Stewart’ and I said ‘no way.’ Then I heard ‘Brock,'” said the Illinois State junior. “I just broke down and hugged my brother and hugged my mom. It’s a feeling I’ll never forget, a dream come true.”

His father Jeff, who works as a scout for the San Diego Padres, was not at home during the draft.

Stewart began his professional baseball career with the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League on June 22nd pitching two scoreless innings in relief. On the season the 6’3” – 210 lb right-hander posted a 3.41 ERA while striking out 45 in 34.1 innings over 17 appearances. He made but one start.

He began the 2015 season with the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. After seven starts with an ERA of 2.84 and 38 strikeouts in 38 innings he was promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League. He found the Class A+ league a bit more challenging and finished the season with a 5.43 ERA over 18 appearances, 12 of them starts. He continued to strike out a hitter per inning.

Stewart began the 2016 season back in the California League and after two starts in which he limited the opposition to five hits in 11 innings he was promoted to the Tulsa Drillers of the AA Texas League. Stewart made his debut with the Drillers at home on April 18 against the San Antonio Missions pitching five scoreless innings on three hits while striking out eight and walking two.

Brock Stewart
(Image courtesy of – milb.com)

On the season with the Drillers Stewart has now made six starts over 36 innings in which he has struck out 43 and walked nine. His ERA is a Urias-like 1.25 and his WHIP a remarkable 0.92.

Stewart recently had success against the Arkansas Travelers and attributed some of it to a familiarity with a number of the Arkansas hitters as well as his development as a pitcher.

“[The key was] just commanding the fastball and getting ahead of hitters,” said Stewart. “I was able to throw some good change-ups too. When it came to off-speed, I probably threw 80 percent change-ups and just a few sliders. Mostly fastballs and change-ups today and throwing a lot of strikes like I always do.”

He has continued to thrive in the Texas League after his fast start in the California League in 2016. Command had played a significant role in Brock Stewart’s progress as his has struck out 43 hitters in 36 innings while walking nine and allowing only 24 base hits. He attributes his success to learning how to pitch which is a lesson well learned in only his second season removed from rookie ball.

“I got myself out of the Cal League, so that was a big thing to do with it,” he said. “That’s a hitters’ league and it’s tough to pitch there, but I’m not using it as an excuse. The big thing is having more of a clue in my second year as a pitcher — how to pitch, how to work batters and what mentally I should bring to the park every day. I can’t really pinpoint what has changed, but overall feel for the pitcher’s mound and pitching has just improved with experience.”

Brock Stewart is having a season in the Dodgers minor league system as strong as any pitcher not named Urias. He is not listed among the Dodgers top 30 prospects. However, the 24-year old is making the best of his opportunity by throwing strikes and believing in his stuff. His aforementioned ERA (1.25) and WHIP (0.92) are both presently the best in the Texas League.