On Tuesday afternoon, DJ Stewart grabbed a first-baseman’s mitt and took extra reps at a foreign position for a corner outfielder.
Stewart wants to make himself as valuable as possible to a team that has more than a few bats worth keeping.
If he can slide to first base and spell Pete Alonso from time to time, maybe he has found a separator that ensures he sticks in the major leagues.
Or maybe his bat will speak loudly enough that anything he brings defensively would be a bonus, like relish on a hot dog.
Stewart, who survived what might have been a cut-day Tuesday afternoon, blasted the tie-breaking, three-run home run in the Mets’ 4-2 win over the Cubs in front of 22,880 stuffed fans on Dollar Dog Night at Citi Field.
The Mets (15-14) evened the four-game series behind a slugger whose roster spot had been in some doubt.
When Starling Marte was placed on the bereavement list this weekend, Mark Vientos was called up and performed.
Vientos’ bat showed enough (including a game-winning homer Sunday) that there was speculation whether the Mets would keep him in the majors once Marte returned, perhaps optioning a bench bat such as Stewart.
It was one more obstacle for Stewart to survive in what has been a tightrope walk on the edge of the Mets’ roster.
“We have great guys throughout this entire organization,” Stewart said. “I know that there’s guys that can help us, but … I know what I’m capable of doing. I know I can help this team get to where we want to be.”
Marte returned to the club and the Mets optioned Vientos and stuck with Stewart, who rewarded them quickly.
The Mets and Cubs were tied at 1-1 entering the bottom of the sixth, when the Chicago defense allowed Stewart a chance that he did not waste.
The Mets’ threat began with J.D. Martinez reaching on an error from shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Tyrone Taylor singled with two outs to bring up Stewart.
The second pitch Stewart saw — a cutter from reliever Adbert Alzolay — he blasted an estimated 388 feet to right and watched it go.
Stewart admired the second-deck shot that became his fourth homer of the year and raised his OPS to .849. Somewhere along the way, he snuck a grin into the dugout, manager Carlos Mendoza frequently telling Stewart to smile.
But there have been reasons for Stewart to feel uneasy.
He was the 26th and final person to make the Opening Day roster, brought north from St. Lucie but not told he cracked the team until the Mets saw who else fell off opposing rosters.
Stewart got off to a slow start as Martinez — who might have been his replacement — got up to speed.
“Knowing that J.D. was getting ready, I think there was a cloud on top of him,” Mendoza said. “I’m just glad he’s having a big impact on our team.”
Stewart acknowledged the final few weeks of spring and early this season were “difficult.”
“I know what I did last year,” said Stewart, who was the find of last season’s second half. “But that’s last year, it’s in the past. I know what I’m capable of, and I really wanted to be a part of it and help this team.
“Obviously J.D. makes this team way better. I think I can do that as well in the situations and times that I get opportunities.”
Like Mets fans — who ate (or at least bought) 44,269 hot dogs, the team said — Stewart saw his opportunity and made the most of it.
The Mets did not need much else from their offense on another strong but short night from Sean Manaea, who allowed one run and walked four in five innings.
Four Mets relievers allowed one run on one hit in four innings to ensure Stewart’s swing would be the difference — but it might not buy him a start Wednesday.
Marte is expected to return to the lineup.
Martinez will play nearly every day at DH. Mendoza said the Mets will “continue to find ways to get [Stewart] in the lineup.”
Whether in a corner-outfield spot, first base, DH or coming off the bench, Stewart is trying to ensure that he fits wherever the team needs him.
“This is the big leagues. You have to earn your opportunities every single day,” Stewart said. “So I’m not going to take that for granted and continue to grind, be ready as much as I can be whenever my name is called.”
