Ian Stewart

After a slow start as the team's primary third baseman, Stewart succumbed to wrist surgery in July and never returned. Because he was playing hurt, his 2012 numbers aren't particularly instructive. The more important considerations are his health - at press time he's expected to be ready for the start of spring training - and his status with the team - he'll have a chance to compete for the starting third base job with the likes of Josh Vitters, Luis Valbuena and a few other long shots. In short, Stewart should have an opportunity for playing time if he can ever stay healthy, and there's still some power upside here, albeit with a high strikeout rate and a poor batting average.

Stewart was slowed by a sprained MCL and strained hamstring in spring training and never seemed to get settled at the plate before the Rockies sent him back to Triple-A in mid-April. Things went much better for Stewart at hitter-friendly Colorado Springs in the PCL as he swatted 14 homers in 171 at-bats around tastes of the big leagues, but a wrist injury in late August kept him out of the Rockies' third-base mix down the stretch. The Rockies traded him to the Cubs in December, and the loss of Aramis Ramirez could ultimately pave the way for him to start with his new club provided that he's healthy. Stewart will turn 27 in April, but he's just two seasons removed from a 25-homer effort in Colorado and could prove to be a nice buy-low if he can turn the page following an injury-plagued conclusion to his time with the Rockies.

In 2010, Stewart improved his batting average (.256), cut his strikeout rate (28.5 percent), and continued to display the power that has made him a promising fantasy asset. He also continued to struggle against lefties (.231/.343/.341) and battled an oblique injury that cost him most of September. Entering his age-26 season, his power numbers should grow, assuming he can stay healthy. If he can continue to improve his strikeout rate and/or start to figure out lefties, he may be primed for a breakout.

The plan going into 2009 was for Stewart to share time with Garrett Atkins at third base, but it didn't take the Rockies long to scrap that plan and install Stewart as the everyday third baseman. His swing is still a little bit raw, as demonstrated by the .226 average, but the power is already there. Atkins was non-tendered in December, so Stewart will have the job to himself heading into spring training. The experiment with him in the outfield is over, so his days of outfield and second-base eligibility are numbered if not altogether passed.

The power came back and the walks are there, but when you strike out in 35 percent of your at-bats, it tends to eat your game. Nevertheless, Stewart is an exciting lefty power hitter, with the question being whether he'll hit .240 or .290. Tens of millions of dollars ride on that question. In 2009, it will be closer to .240.

The Rockies’ top hitting prospect put together a strong season at Triple-A in 2007. He hit .304 with 15 home runs and 65 RBI in 112 games but he still strikes out too much (once every 4.5 at-bats). He received a callup in August and spent the rest of the season filling a pinch-hitting role. He is stuck behind Garrett Atkins on the depth chart and there was talk this winter of moving him to second base. At 6-3 he’d be the biggest second baseman in baseball. Odds are he will start the year at Triple-A while the Rockies figure out how to get him regular playing time. He’s only 22 and could use another year of development.

After batting .396 with five homers in 48 spring training at-bats with the Rockies, Stewart headed to Double-A where he spent the entire year and hit a somewhat disappointing .268/.350/.451. His performance to date hasn't quite matched the hype surrounding the former No. 10 overall pick, but then again, Stewart has been one of the younger players at each of his minor league stops. He has excellent power potential to go with his discerning batting eye. The emergence of Garrett Atkins at the big-league level has the Rockies toying with Stewart as an outfielder, but his bat is expected to play anywhere. Look for a September big league call-up and a possible starting gig in 2008.

After getting off to a sluggish start at Single-A Modesto in 2005, Stewart recovered nicely to hit .274/.353/.497 with 17 HR and 86 RBI. He struck out 113 times, though, reaching the century mark for the second year in a row. In his favor, he has a ton of power, the ability to hit for average, and a strong work ethic that has scouts raving. Look for him to start the season at Double-A and possibly be in line for a September call-up in 2006.

Stewart lived up to the hype in 2004 when he became the youngest player in the 107-year history of the South Atlantic league to hit 30 HR. He has the most power potential of the Rockies' three third base super-prospects and is likely to win in the long run, though he'll begin 2005 at high Single-A Visalia and should end the season in Double-A.

The Rockies' first-round pick in the 2003 draft (10th overall) knocked Pioneer League pitchers around in his first taste of life in the minors, posting a .959 OPS. He showed relative command of the strike zone, walking 29 times against 55 Ks, hitting .317 on the season. Stewart was drafted out of high school, so there's plenty of time for him to develop into the future at third base for the Rockies.