DJ Stewart talks about getting his call to the Orioles

DJ Stewart got into 17 games in the major leagues last September, batting .250 (10-for-40) with three doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs after joining the Orioles' expanded roster and making his major league debut on Sept. 12.

It was exciting to be called to the majors. But when Stewart found out he was coming to join the Orioles today from Triple-A Norfolk, it was a different feeling - and, he said, an even better excitement level for him. And he's starting tonight in right field, batting sixth.

"Definitely. I've never had that experience where the manager calls you into his office and tells you you're coming up here," he said. "Last year, I was home and got a phone call and found out that way. It was more special this way."

Stewart's bat has been rolling throughout this month, as he has batted .456/.512/.882 in 19 games, with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 27 RBIs. With a batting average and OPS that led all of the minors in May, it started to become almost inevitable that his call would come.

He said it wasn't hard to stay patient while waiting for that.

"You can only control what you can control," he said. "You've got continue to play wherever you're at. I know that they are watching and trying to find a way to get me here. Nothing against them at all. It's a business and they had to find the right opportunity. I'm glad that it happened sooner than later."

Stewart was among the early cuts in spring training. Was that extra motivation to show he could get back?

"Yeah. Obviously, I wanted to be here," he said. "They gave me specific things to work on, so that was a goal of mine to go down, work on those and show them I could do it. As far as what's been going good for me, just simplifying things. Trying to use the whole field. Had early work probably the day the hot streak started, had early work with Butch (Davis, hitting coach) and Gary (Kendall, Norfolk manager). Just something click for me the way they worded things and took off from there."

What did they tell him?

"I was kind of tight with my back elbow. Just being too tight and trying to kill everything," Stewart said. "Playing at Norfolk, with the wind blowing in, you try to hit the ball further than you need to and sometimes you get the ball knocked down with the wind. I was trying to do too much. Just not realizing I'm strong enough. Just relax and hit the ball. If I barrel it up consistently enough, it's going to go."

The Orioles' first-round pick (No. 25 overall) in 2015 out of Florida State, the lefty hitting Stewart has hit .316/.425/.586 with 13 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 43 games on the year for Norfolk.

Stewart got so hot this month that he had to remind himself to not expand his strike zone and swing more because he was doing so well. He had to stay in his lane and keep the strong plate discipline skills that helped produce the hot streak in the first place.

"When you are feeling good, you think you can hit everything, but that is kind of how my game is," he said. "I kind of make you throw the ball where I am looking for in that at-bat or on certain pitches. But sometimes I do find myself swinging at pitches I normally wouldn't if I weren't feeling so good, but I think I've done a good job of balancing both."

Stewart was asked about watching the Orioles from afar and what he can add now that he is here.

"Obviously, it's been tough to see them when they are struggling," he said. "Because we have relationships with all of the guys, not some of the guys that weren't here in spring training. I don't have that relationship with them. But they're an Oriole now and they're part of this brotherhood, so it's tough to watch them struggle. But it's awesome to see them when they have success. Just to know we're going through this together, whether the guys that here right now but also the guys in Triple-A, Double-A, we're all going through this together whether we are here or not."

Stewart said manager Brandon Hyde asked him which was his most comfortable outfield spot.

"In professional baseball, I haven't played as much center field. But I'm comfortable playing all three," he said. "The biggest thing for me is getting my reps in during batting practice. That is when you can get the most work in and the truest reads."