Christopher David Stewart (born February 19, 1982) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professiona ...

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the cat ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

(MLB) for the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...

, Texas Rangers,

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one ...

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yo ...

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in ...

, and

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...

Amateur career

Born in

Fontana, California Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County, California. Founded by Azariel Blanchard Miller in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area. It is now a regiona ...

, Stewart attended Canyon Springs High School in

Moreno Valley, California Moreno Valley is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and is part of the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Riverside County by population and one of the Inland Empire's p ...

. After graduating high school in 2000, Stewart attended

Riverside Community College Riverside City College (RCC) is a public community college in Riverside, California. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System. History RCC first opened in 1916 at ...

for one season before turning professional. During his freshman season at Riverside, Stewart hit .361 with a .509 slugging percentage.

Professional career

Chicago White Sox

The

selected Stewart in the 12 round of the

2001 Major League Baseball Draft The 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 5 and 6. First round selections Supplemental First Round Selections Compensation Picks Background On June 1, 2001, Rolando Viera, a Cuban ...

. He signed with the White Sox that year on August 18. Stewart began his professional career in 2002 with the Chicago White Sox rookie-level affiliate, the

Bristol White Sox The Bristol Pirates were a Minor League Baseball team in Bristol, Virginia, United States. They were a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team played home games at DeVault Memorial Stadium. Opened in 1969, Devault Memorial Stadiu ...

of the

Appalachian League The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from J ...

. With Bristol, Stewart batted .278 with 25 runs, 44

hits Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block * ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998 * ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album s ...

, nine

doubles Men's doubles, Women's doubles or Mixed doubles are sports having two players per side, including; * Beach volleyball * Doubles badminton * Doubles curling * Footvolley * Doubles pickleball * Doubles squash * Doubles table tennis * Doubles te ...

, one

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...

and 12

runs batted in A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the b ...

(RBIs). On defense that season, Stewart committed eight

errors An error (from the Latin ''error'', meaning "wandering") is an action which is inaccurate or incorrect. In some usages, an error is synonymous with a mistake. The etymology derives from the Latin term 'errare', meaning 'to stray'. In statistics ...

in 377 total chances. During the 2003 season, Stewart was assigned to the Winston-Salem Warthogs of the Class-A Advanced

Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 un ...

. In 2004, Stewart split his time, first playing Triple-A ball with the Charlotte Knights of the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ( ...

and then Double-A baseball with the

Birmingham Barons The Birmingham Barons are a Minor League Baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and plays at Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. The current ...

of the Southern League. Stewart stayed with the Barons for the 2005 minor league baseball season. In 2006, Stewart was promoted back up to Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights and put on the White Sox's 40-man roster and made his Major League debut on September 6, 2006. Stewart appeared in four games for the White Sox before making his first start on September 27, 2006. In his 8 major league

at bat In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens during their turn at bat, but a batt ...

s, Stewart had no

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

s and two

strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is den ...

Texas Rangers

Stewart was traded to the Texas Rangers on January 12, 2007, for minor league pitcher John Lujan. After showing solid defensive skills in

spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives estab ...

, Stewart beat out veteran Miguel Ojeda for the Rangers backup catcher job, and started the season on the major league roster. On June 9, 2007, the Rangers optioned Stewart to Triple-A after acquiring

Adam Melhuse Adam Michael Melhuse (born March 27, 1972) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers. He is was the hitting coa ...

in a trade. Stewart went to 2008

with the Rangers before being released on March 27, 2008.

New York Yankees

On April 3, 2008, Stewart signed a minor league contract with the

and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. He was called up following the injury to Yankee catcher

Jorge Posada Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta (born August 17, 1970) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. Posada recorded a .273 batting average, 275 home runs, and ...

on April 28, 2008. He was sent down after only appearing in one game on April 30, after

Chad Moeller Chad Edward Moeller OE-ler(born February 18, 1975) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2000 through 2010 for the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinna ...

cleared waivers and re-joined the team. Stewart was designated for assignment on June 30 to make room on the roster for

Brett Gardner Brett Michael Gardner (born August 24, 1983) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. Gardner was a walk-on for the College of Charleston's b ...

and later outrighted to the minors.

Second stint with White Sox

Stewart became a free agent after the season and re-signed with the Chicago White Sox.

Second stint with Yankees

On March 22, 2009, Stewart returned to the Yankees by being traded for a

player to be named later In Major League Baseball, a player to be named later (PTBNL) is an unnamed player involved in exchange or "trade" of players between teams. The terms of a trade are not finalized until a later date, most often following the conclusion of the seaso ...

(PTBNL).

San Diego Padres

Stewart signed a minor league contract with the

on December 22, 2009. Stewart was called up to join the Padres on September 1, 2010. He was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must within seven days, return the pla ...

by the Padres on October 6, he was outrighted to the minors but he refused the assignment and became a free agent.

San Francisco Giants

Stewart signed with the

for the 2011 season. They called him up to the majors on May 26 after

Buster Posey Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III (born March 27, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement a ...

was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured bone in his lower left leg. On August 9, 2011, he hit his first big-league home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates' James McDonald.

Third stint with Yankees

The New York Yankees traded for Stewart on April 4, 2012, in exchange for reliever

George Kontos George Nicholas Kontos (born June 12, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians. Prior to pl ...

. He served as the backup to Russell Martin for the 2012 season, with

Francisco Cervelli Francisco Cervelli (born March 6, 1986) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher and former catching coach for the San Diego Padres. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta B ...

playing in Triple-A. Before the start of the 2013 season, Yankees'

manager Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activitie ...

Joe Girardi Joseph Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and St. ...

estimated Stewart would play in 60 games; he played in over 100. On July 20, 2013, against the rival Red Sox, Stewart turned one of the more memorable double plays of the year. With Daniel Nava on first, Dustin Pedroia popped up behind home plate. Stewart threw his mask off and dived into the stands to make a spectacular catch, nearly toppling over. Noticing that Nava started to run for second, Stewart quickly regained balance and threw a laser to the second baseman to throw out Nava. Stewart's efforts helped secure a 5–2 victory for the Yankees.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 2, 2013, the Yankees traded Stewart to the

for cash or a player to be named later. Stewart resigned with the Pirates on a two-year deal with a team option for 2018, worth a potential $4.25 million on January 19, 2016. On November 3, 2017, the Pirates declined his 2018 option.

Atlanta Braves

Stewart signed a one-year contract with the

on February 14, 2018. He was designated for assignment on April 4, 2018. On August 22, Stewart's contract was selected by the Braves to temporarily act as the back-up for

Tyler Flowers Cole Tyler Flowers (born January 24, 1986) is an American former professional baseball catcher. Flowers was drafted by the Braves in the 33rd round of the 2005 MLB draft. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox from 200 ...

Kurt Suzuki Kurtis Kiyoshi Suzuki (born October 4, 1983) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Angels. ...

suffered a contusion near his elbow. Stewart was later designated for assignment again on August 26.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On August 30, Stewart was traded to the

for cash considerations.

Second stint with Padres

On January 24, 2019, Stewart signed a minor league deal with the

. He was released on June 9.

Retirement

Stewart announced his retirement from professional baseball on July 12, 2019.

Player profile

Stewart has a reputation as an excellent defensive catcher. He contributes to the team with his ability to frame pitches, which saves his team runs. Stewart also excels at throwing out potential base stealers; in 2011 with the Giants Stewart caught 39% of base stealers and in 2013 with the Yankees, Stewart caught 31% of base stealers.

Personal life

Stewart and his wife, Lindsey, have two children; a son, Sebastian Carter, and a daughter, Brooklyn Jean. He is represented by Arizona-based sports and entertainment attorney, Jim Kuzmich.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Chris 1982 births Living people Chicago White Sox players Texas Rangers players New York Yankees players San Diego Padres players San Francisco Giants players Pittsburgh Pirates players Atlanta Braves players Arizona Diamondbacks players Baseball players from California Major League Baseball catchers Bristol White Sox players Winston-Salem Warthogs players Birmingham Barons players Charlotte Knights players Oklahoma RedHawks players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees players Portland Beavers players Fresno Grizzlies players Riverside City Tigers baseball players Bradenton Marauders players Indianapolis Indians players Altoona Curve players Gwinnett Stripers players El Paso Chihuahuas players People from Fontana, California