TOKYO, Japan – Central Florida product Carter Stewart Jr. was one of the top prospects of the 2018 MLB draft class and even earned consideration as the No. 1 overall pick. With a projectable 6-foot-6 frame, high-90s fastball, and 3,000+ rpm curveball, Stewart received a Rick Porcello comp and eventually went 8th overall to the Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately, he failed the team’s physical due to ligament damage in his wrist, resulting in a significant underslot offer which Stewart rejected.
He enrolled at a local junior college, hoping to declare for the MLB Draft again the following year, but a different opportunity presented itself to his agent, Scott Boras. On May 21, 2019, Stewart made an unprecedented move by signing a six-year contract with NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, guaranteeing him $7 million, far exceeding the $4,980,700 slot value he was expected to receive from Atlanta. Of course, there was a risk with Stewart’s decision – he was committing himself to play professional baseball in a foreign country he had never before visited. If things worked out, however, Stewart could open the door to an entirely new path for American prospects.
The first few years of Stewart’s journey in Japan were challenging, to say the least, as the COVID-19 pandemic further isolated him in an unfamiliar location. Not only was Stewart asked to develop his skills on the field, but he also had to grow up and learn to become an adult in a completely uncomfortable environment. Stewart spent his first two years pitching in the Hawks’ farm system, playing games against the Shikoku Island League Plus, Japan’s most competitive independent league, and the Western League, one of NPB’s top minor leagues. In 2020, he pitched in 15 official games in the minors, pitching to a 4.16 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 67 innings.
The following year, Stewart had much better results in the minors, with a 1.84 ERA in 53.2 frames and 55 strikeouts. He was called up to make his NPB debut on April 17, making four relief appearances before being sent back down in May. In August, he returned to the top team and made his first career start against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, throwing five no-hit innings with nine strikeouts, contributing to a combined no-hitter for the team (the game ended 0-0 because NPB did not play extra innings in 2021 due to pandemic protocols).
He was used as a swingman the rest of the way and had mixed results, with a 32.1 K% and an 18.8 BB%. Though he was still raw and unpolished, the arm talent was clearly there. Overall, in 11 NPB games, he had a 2.81 FIP but struggled to keep runs off the board with a 6.08 ERA.
He didn’t appear at the NPB level in 2022, spending the entire year on the farm with a 3.19 ERA and 5.10 FIP across 53.2 innings. Stewart’s velocity was progressing well, averaging 94.1 mph on his fastball. However, he struggled to find the strike zone consistently and failed to get a feel for his secondaries other than the curveball. Going into 2023, Stewart was still just 23 years old but had already completed over half of his six-year deal. SoftBank was expecting results sooner rather than later.
