Orioles in AFL: Stewart, Marin working hard in desert

The Baltimore Orioles’ decision to challenge Chance Sisco with a trip to last year’s Arizona Fall League paid dividends for the young catcher in 2016, as he produced a .320 average in Double-A en route to a Triple-A promotion at age 21.

This year, the club is hoping the AFL will similarly serve as a springboard for the career of No. 12 prospect D.J. Stewart.

Stewart’s first two months this season were much like his 2015 professional debut, when he hit .218 over 62 games in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League after the Orioles selected him in the first round with the No. 25 overall pick.

But the Florida State product began to find his stroke as the calendar flipped to June, and by the end of the month he was playing for Class A Advanced Frederick.

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Stewart flourished in the Carolina League, hitting .279/.389/.448 with 16 extra-base hits including six home runs across 59 games. Altogether, he posted a .776 OPS with 10 home runs and 26 steals between the two levels.

Now playing for Peoria in the Fall League, the 22-year-old outfielder is looking to further his development after a successful first full season.

“Work on my swing,” Stewart said when asked about his objectives this fall. “I’m kind of making an adjustment with my stance right now, so just fine-tuning that and coming out here and putting together good at-bats.” Stewart on his Fall League goals Orioles prospect Stewart on his Fall League goalsOrioles prospect D.J. Stewart talks about his goals and the experience of playing with prospects from other clubs in the Arizona Fall League

Whereas Stewart is getting his first taste of the Fall League this year, Marin is one of the three Orioles farmhands back for a second tour of Arizona after he hit .278 with Peoria in 2015.

Following two straight years at Class A Advanced Frederick, …

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