Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
The Pirates' first selection in the 2015 Draft, Newman came out of the University of Arizona known for his ability to make contact and hit for average. He's largely lived up to that billing, hitting .320 in his first full season of pro ball and then .302 in Triple-A in '18, after a bit of a down year, en route to making his big league debut, where he seemed overmatched in a small sample size.
Newman has maintained the ability to consistently put the ball in play throughout his pro career, keeping his Minor League strikeout rates extremely low at every stop. He's also not drawn a ton of walks, but that's not as big of a concern if he can continue to swing at good pitches given that as a leadoff type hitter with no power, pitchers are likely to come right at him and working counts could put him behind easily. Newman will never be a power hitter, but being able to impact the ball with more authority and spray line drives to all fields -- he has extremely high ground ball rates -- will help him find a modicum of success in the big leagues.
Newman runs well and is reliable at shortstop, his primary position, but his range and arm look better on the right side of second base. He's likely to yield the premium position to Cole Tucker when he's ready, and second base is crowded with Adam Frazier in Pittsburgh and Kevin Kramer waiting in the wings, so a career as a utility type might be his floor. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2018 329 69 1 1.4 83.5 5.7 .231 .288 .211 .243 .298 17.4 23.7 4.1 2019 1882 434 9 2.1 84.7 8.1 .291 .389 .340 .312 .327 24.4 11.7 5.3 ALL 2211 503 10 2.0 84.6 7.8 .281 .373 .320 .301 .323 23.4 13.5 5.1 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Rankings Triples Year 3B Rank 2019 6 10th in NL Batting Average Year AVG Rank 2019 .308 8th in NL Caught Stealing Year CS Rank 2019 8 4th in NL Stolen Bases Year SB Rank 2019 16 14th in NL Transactions Team Date Transaction 05/04/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates activated SS Kevin Newman from the 10-day injured list. 04/23/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates sent 2B Kevin Newman on a rehab assignment to Indianapolis Indians. 04/11/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates placed 2B Kevin Newman on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 9, 2019. Right middle finger laceration. 08/16/2018 Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of 2B Kevin Newman from Indianapolis Indians. 01/22/2018 Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster SS Kevin Newman to spring training. 07/20/2017 2B Kevin Newman assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve. 01/09/2017 Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster SS Kevin Newman to spring training. 06/18/2016 SS Kevin Newman assigned to Altoona Curve from Bradenton Marauders. 06/14/2016 Bradenton Marauders activated SS Kevin Newman from the 7-day disabled list. 05/27/2016 Bradenton Marauders placed SS Kevin Newman on the 7-day disabled list. Left Orbital Fracture 04/05/2016 SS Kevin Newman assigned to Bradenton Marauders from West Virginia Power. 08/09/2015 SS Kevin Newman assigned to West Virginia Power from West Virginia Black Bears. 06/15/2015 Pittsburgh Pirates signed SS Kevin Newman.
