Get To Know: D.J. Stewart

"With the 28th pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, the Baltimore Orioles select D.J. Stewart, outfielder, Florida State University," said Rob Manfred, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Total chaos ensued.

Family and friends screamed and cheered, phones vibrated and rang all around him. But for D.J. Stewart, it was the fulfillment of a life-long dream.

"I truly had no clue what would happen," Stewart said. "I got a phone call from my summer ball coach just before I was picked. He called me and said, 'Hey! Are you hearing what I'm hearing?!' I said, 'no what are you talking about' … and this is literally right when Baltimore is on the clock. My coach laughed and told me 'I'm going to call you back in 45 seconds. You better answer the phone!' 

"Not even 30 seconds later, my name scrolls up on the screen and all of my family and close friends with me are going crazy. I was so happy to be an Oriole."

Demetrius Jerome Stewart grew up just outside Gainesville, Florida - Gator Country. His mom went to Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, so how did he end up a Seminole?

"I've always grown up a Florida State fan. My mom was a big Florida fan, but my dad has always been a Seminoles fan - we always had that "house divided" thing. There was something about Florida State that struck me and I always liked them a little more than the Gators growing up when I watched them. Florida actually offered me before Florida State and I was excited by that, but it didn't touch my heart the way it did when I was offered by Florida State. Once I got that offer, it didn't take me long to commit."

Growing up in the heart of some of the best collegiate athletics programs in the country didn't necessarily sway him one way or another. It was all about comfort, and for Stewart, Florida State felt like home.

"The whole "ACC vs. SEC" thing didn't influence me much," he said. "As a high school kid, you don't hear as much about that conference rivalry as you would if you were already in college or an alum. At the time, Florida State was one of the best ACC schools and they always compete well with SEC schools. Florida State just seemed like the better fit for me."

It certainly worked out well for him. Aside from the fact that he was selected as the first of two first round draft picks last June, D.J. had a story-book career in Tallahassee. Among the long list of awards, Stewart was named the ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2014, was a two-time First Team All-ACC Selection and was named a First Team All-American by several prominent national publications. He hit .344 with 54 doubles, 27 homers and 168 RBIs in three seasons for the Seminoles.

The transition to full-season pro baseball is something Stewart has really embraced.

"Getting ready for the season is definitely different at the professional level because you've got the off-season program where you're mainly focusing on weights and stuff like that, but it's not as long. But I like it better now because you don't have to worry about school - it's literally just baseball, baseball, baseball, so it's a very different experience for me."

If he was able to post those numbers at Florida State while also trying to handle the duties of being a full-time student, the Orioles can only imagine what kind of success he might have while focusing his attention on the diamond.

After a tough start to the 2016 season, D.J.'s game has come to life in recent weeks. In a series against Kannapolis from April 21 to 24, he went 6-for-8 while drawing six walks. With performances like that, Stewart's confidence and hard work is paying off.