by Jonathan O'Konis Minor League Baseball Editor

Hatboro, PA (My Sportsbook) - If you're a young hitter in the minors and the players you are most often compared to are Todd Helton, Eric Chavez, and Chipper Jones odds are you can put the ball out of the park. Ian Stewart, the current South Atlantic League leader in homers with 29, is quite capable of that and alot more. A complete player who can hit, hit with power, field, throw and run Stewart offers more then just home runs. Add in the fact that he, like Chavez and Jones, is a third basemen and Stewart's potential value goes through roof. Then add in the fact that Stewart's future home is Coors Field and you're talking about a player at the hot corner that is capable of putting up numbers comparable to Jim Thome or future teammate Helton. I recently had the opportunity to speak to Stewart and we spoke about expectations, Coors Field and the important role his parents play in his career.

SPORTSNETWORK: What was it like for you to be the 10th overall pick in 2003 draft and the first position player drafted in the first round for the Rockies since Todd Helton?

IAN STEWART: Pretty overwhelming. Amazing, everything I hoped for and looked forward to. I had my family with me on draft day. It was just an amazing experience. It does enter my mind about being the first position player taken by the Rockies since Helton, but it also says alot about the path the Rockies have chosen. They've been taking college pitchers and other college players. But to be considered in that same class as Helton feels pretty good. I feel it's a great honor to be in any category with him.

SPORTSNETWORK: You are known primarily as hitter. What players growing up did you watch and try to pattern yourself after?

IAN STEWART: I don't know that when I was growing up there was a specific person. I know that with some of my friends we emulated alot of the hitters, whether they were right or left-handed, just for fun. I think that in high school, and even now, I looked at guys like Eric Chavez and Chipper Jones and kind of modeled myself after them and their approach at the plate.

SPORTSNETWORK: You mentioned your high school. You attended La Quinta High School in California one of the most successful high school programs in the country. What was it like and what did you learn about baseball there?

IAN STEWART: I think that, basically, I learned everything that I've ever needed to know about baseball there. Without Coach Demarest and Coach Doyle I don't think I'd be where I am now. Just teaching me how to play the game, play it right, and how to respect the game. To work hard every day, day-in, day-out. To keep a level head and just work your hardest. I guess that my god- given talent combined with their knowledge of the game has taken me this far. I think I really do owe much of my success to this point to them.

SPORTSNETWORK: Do you think its helped you to play in such a competitive environment throughout high school?

IAN STEWART: Oh yeah. Of course. Southern California has probably the most competitive baseball in the country. Being able to play every month of the year has helped me alot. Alot of places back east, even in the midwest, they can't play year-round. I think that playing in southern California year-round with the best talent and being able to play all year is important. Experience is what makes you better. Being around those coaches and the great players in southern California has made me a better player.

SPORTSNETWORK: What is your approach to an at-bat? Do you go to the plate looking for anything in particular?

IAN STEWART: No. I really think I do most of my thinking when I'm on-deck. Trying to figure out a pattern a pitcher has or alot of times I'll look for his arm slot to see where the ball is coming out of. Then when I get in the box, unless it's a certain situation where I'm trying to get a guy in from third or move a runner, I don't really think anything. I don't think pitch, I don't think of location, I don't really think much of anything. I just try to clear my head, relax, see the ball and hit the ball.

SPORTSNETWORK: Do you set goals for yourself?

IAN STEWART: Yeah I do. I set individual goals for myself before each year. I try to better myself each year in certain categories. If I accomplish them, good. I had goals going into Casper last year, when I played there, and I bettered my individual goals there. So far I'm doing better then I thought I would this year.

SPORTSNETWORK: If you were going to look at your stats for this season, what would be the first one you looked at?

IAN STEWART: People may not believe me, but I like to have a good batting average. Alot of guys consider me just a power guy, someone who can hit a lot of home runs (currently 29). But that's not all I can do. I have a fair share of doubles (25) and triples (8) too. I think that I could be a .300 hitter (.311) and that's something I take pride in working hard on hitting. Also I look at runs scored (83) and RBI (91). That's a big part of this game. If I can drive people in and if I'm scoring alot of runs that means I'm on-base more.

SPORTSNETWORK: Which aspect of your game do you take the most pride in?

IAN STEWART: I work hard on all aspects of my game. But I would say that I take alot of pride on working on my defense, just because when people were trying to look for something negative to say they always brought up my defense. How I wouldn't be able to play third or I wouldn't be able to stay there. So I take a lot of pride in getting to field early every day working with Coach MiKulik and Coach Hajek and trying to better myself as an infielder.

SPORTSNETWORK: How are you adjusting to life in the minors?

IAN STEWART: It's fine. I thought the travel and the buses would be one of the difficult things to deal with. But it's been pretty easy. Everybody has their TV's and CD players, it goes by pretty quick. The bus rides here (Asheville) aren't as long as they were last year in Casper. So it's been pretty easy.

SPORTSNETWORK: What do you and the other players do with your free time away from the field?

IAN STEWART: Sleep. A day off you usually sleep alot or go to the mall and shop. Some of the guys have actually started to go white-water rafting. There are some streams and rivers around here so we've done that a couple of times.

SPORTSNETWORK: Your parents often travel to your games to see you play. How important is their support?

IAN STEWART: They're very important. I talk to them everyday. Call them after the game, even though they listen to the games. I still call them to say hello. I know a lot of guys probably don't get to see their parents or anyone in their family during the year. I think that being able to see my parents is a big deal to me. They give me a lot of love and support. To be able to share my career with them is really important to me.

SPORTSNETWORK: Do you salivate at the prospect of one day possibly hitting everyday in Coors Field?

IAN STEWART: I think it's amazing. I took BP there after I got drafted. The stadium is beautiful. Hitting there is amazing obviously. I took ground balls and the field was just unbelievable. To think that I could be playing there or any of the other ballparks around the country is just mind boggling. Just exciting. I don't even know how to explain it.

SPORTSNETWORK: What other Parks besides Coors do you really look forward to hitting in?

IAN STEWART: I've been to Busch Stadium a couple of times. The stadium was wonderful and the fans were awesome. I look forward to playing there. Dodger Stadium close to home and the new Petco Park where the Padres play are two of the stadiums I want to play at. Maybe someday getting the opportunity to play at Yankee Stadium or Fenway. It's pretty exciting.