When it comes to his defense, well, the critics aren't so sure. They question his range and his arm. They wonder if he's fit to be an everyday left fielder. They say he's more of a DH. They might not be wrong.
Indeed, the Tigers kept Stewart in Triple-A Toledo for most of last season because his defense wasn't up to snuff. The rebuild wasn't wanting for a rookie DH. Stewart eventually got his shot in September, and the results were mixed.
Asked on the Jamie and Stoney Show on 97.1 The Ticket about those who doubt his defense, Stewart said, "There’s always going to be critics out there no matter what you do in life, so I just gotta control what I can control. Go out and honestly prove the haters wrong sometimes."
"As an outfielder it’s kind of nice knowing that you have that much space, so you don’t have to really worry about the fence when you’re going back on balls," he said. "The angles of the left field line are kind of weird, some parts curve out and stick out, so you have to learn how the ball’s going to kick off it.
"But for the most part, it’s a huge park so most of the time you’re just working in, which is the easiest thing to do."
"It’s nice having JaCoby over in center because he covers a lot of ground," said Stewart. "But it’s just nice having that space to move around out there, even though it’s big."
The Tigers don't need Stewart to be a stud in the field. They just need him to be steady. It's at the plate that he needs to stand out, and Stewart appears up to the task.