Prospect Report: Caleb Stewart
by: Joe McDonald | Publisher and Editor-in-Chief | Thursday, September 2, 2004
 Cyclones announcer Warner Fusselle calls him “the Kentuckian” and that blue grass twang comes through his voice. A long way from home, Caleb Stewart now plays his baseball at the shores of New York when the Mets selected him in the 22nd round of this year’s draft. At 6’2” and 220 lbs, the University of Kentucky standout, according to his college coach, “has a chance to become a great baseball player.” After hitting .314 with 5 homers and 15 RBIs in 86 at-bats at Cap City, the big right handed outfielder came back to the Steeplechase and is helping Brooklyn in it’s playoff run. MOFO Sports sat down with this Wildcat in Coney Island last night and asked him a few questions.
MOFO Sports: Being from Kentucky, what kind of adjustments did you have to make coming to the big city and playing in front of big crowds? Caleb Stewart: I played in front of big crowds in college, so I am used to that. I always had the crowd rooting for me. It is easier now to have big crowds that want you to win. It’s fun. MS: Have you done anything this year different from your past years? CS: Not really, I just stay within myself and just do what I have always done. There are little things I picked up here and there, but nothing that really changed my game. MS: So what do you think you need to improve your game? CS: There are a lot of things I can do to improve my game. Get in the gym, work out and get in shape. MS: What is the difference with playing with aluminum in college to playing with wood here? CS: It’s not as big of a difference as you would think. It’s definitely a lot easier to get hits with aluminum. With wood it’s tougher. If you get jammed, you are going to break you bat and probably not get a hit on it. If you hit it solid, that are both going to go. MS: How difficult is it playing in this outfield with all the swirling winds? CS: At times it’s real hard. The wind gusts in like it does and shoots out like today. There is a lot of room out there to govern. It’s difficult, but you get used to it in BP and in the game. MS: What are you going to be doing this off-season? CS: I am going to Instructs for three weeks and I am going to finish up school. MS: You still need to graduate? CS: I got about 30 hours to finish. MS: Next year do you expect to be playing in Cap City or St. Lucie? CS: I am going to shoot for St. Lucie, but if it doesn’t happen then Cap City is fine. As long as I make a full season team, that is all I care about. MS: Tell us something about Caleb Stewart that not many people know? CS: Everybody thinks my name is (pronounced) ‘K-Leeb’ or ‘Kolib’. It’s actually pronounced ‘K-lib’ Stewart. Photo by Joe McDonald.
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