John Stewart (baseball)
Encyclopedia
John David Stewart, Jr. is a Major League Baseball
scout for the Atlanta Braves
.
Stewart a lifelong resident of Granville, New York
, was a baseball
player for Granville Central Jr.-Sr. High School, where he graduated from in 1982. In 1980, Stewart, a sophomore, was the number one pitcher on a team that won a Class D State Championship.
Stewart was offered a minor league contract from the Chicago Cubs
upon graduating high school, but opted to attend Georgia Tech
.
In 1986, Stewart was drafted in the 24th round (602nd overall) of the amateur entry draft by the Atlanta Braves
. Stewart pitched for two years in the Braves system before being released. After spending a year away from baseball, Stewart attempted a comeback with the Cincinnati Reds
, where his father worked as a scout
, but was not offered a contract. In 1989, Stewart begab pitching with unaffiliated teams in affiliated rookie leagues, first pitching for the Salt Lake City Trappers
, a minor league team owned in part by Bill Murray
. Stewart also pitched for Reno in 1990 and Salinas in 1991.
After the 1992 season, Stewart was offered a position by the Atlanta Braves
as a coach
. Stewart turned down the position, citing his young age, and instead took a position as a scout
. Since then, he has climbed through the ranks and become one of Atlanta's most dependable scouts. He is accredited with discovering Andruw Jones
. As of 2006, he is the director of regional scouting for the Braves.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
scout for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
Stewart a lifelong resident of Granville, New York
Granville, New York
Granville is a town on the eastern border of Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, was a baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player for Granville Central Jr.-Sr. High School, where he graduated from in 1982. In 1980, Stewart, a sophomore, was the number one pitcher on a team that won a Class D State Championship.
Stewart was offered a minor league contract from the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
upon graduating high school, but opted to attend Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
.
In 1986, Stewart was drafted in the 24th round (602nd overall) of the amateur entry draft by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Stewart pitched for two years in the Braves system before being released. After spending a year away from baseball, Stewart attempted a comeback with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, where his father worked as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
, but was not offered a contract. In 1989, Stewart begab pitching with unaffiliated teams in affiliated rookie leagues, first pitching for the Salt Lake City Trappers
Salt Lake City Trappers
The Salt Lake City Trappers were an independent Pioneer League minor league baseball team, based in Salt Lake City from 1985 to 1992. The Trappers played their home games at Derks Field, located at the present-day site of Spring Mobile Ballpark. The team is best known for winning 29 consecutive...
, a minor league team owned in part by Bill Murray
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
. Stewart also pitched for Reno in 1990 and Salinas in 1991.
After the 1992 season, Stewart was offered a position by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. Stewart turned down the position, citing his young age, and instead took a position as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
. Since then, he has climbed through the ranks and become one of Atlanta's most dependable scouts. He is accredited with discovering Andruw Jones
Andruw Jones
Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason...
. As of 2006, he is the director of regional scouting for the Braves.