Stewart Looking For Fresh Start With Red Sox
BOSTON (CBS) - Wednesday night will be a fresh start for Red Sox pitcher Zach Stewart.
The right-hander gets the start Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels, his first for Boston. Acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a package deal for third baseman Kevin Youkilis back in June, Stewart has spent his Red Sox tenure in Pawtucket since the trade, going 3-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 11 starts.
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Now he gets to try his hand in the bigs.
"I'm excited and ready to get going," Stewart told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jonny Miller Tuesday night from LA, a night he was supposed to take the hill for the PawSox.
Instead, he flew across country from Atlanta to join the Red Sox. The 25-year-old had been relegated to the bullpen for the White Sox after his one start this season, but is excited to get a chance for his new team.
"It's been up and down," he said of his 2012 season. "I started off in the bullpen with Chicago and then got traded and have been starting ever since in Pawtucket. I've done a lot of both my whole career, so it's a little normal but still a bit of a roller coaster of a season."
Boston will be Stewart's third major league team, as he spent time with the Blue Jays before landing in Chicago. With the White Sox this season, he made 18 appearances, allowing 20 runs in 30 innings pitched (good for a 6.00 ERA). The sinker-ball pitcher is hoping to stick around this time, especially with the team that targeted him in exchange for a player of Youkilis' caliber.
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"I feel like there is always a silver lining to it because somebody wants you and somebody is giving up something to come get you," said Stewart if the June 24 deal that sent him to Boston with utility-man Brent Lillibridge (now with Cleveland) for Youkilis. "That was a big trade. To give up a guy like Youkilis, the caliber player he is, it meant a lot to me to come over here and that they thought that much of me to give up a guy like that."
And with Boston's fate all but sealed for the 2012 season, this could be an audition for 2013.
"You never know. That's one of those things that's up to other people," said Stewart. "I'm just going to go out and play the best I can. Whatever happens, happens."
