The Orioles on Sunday announced that they signed first-round draft pick DJ Stewart and assigned him to start his pro career at short-season single-A Aberdeen.
Stewart, the 25th overall pick out of Florida State, reported to Aberdeen Sunday and will likely start playing in games for the IronBirds within the next few days, Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich said.
“He has been hitting on his own and he hasn’t been playing obviously,” Rajsich said. “I’m sure that they will give him a few days before they run him out there.”
Rajsich said the negotiation took “longer than it needed to” because discussions were dictated by the timetable of Stewart’s representative, Scott Boras.