With the 19th pick of the 2015 MLB Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected short stop Kevin Newman from the University of Arizona. The 20-year-old may not be well known for his power, but his raw ability to hit the ball, discipline, base running and defensive play makes up for all of that.
The Poway, California native stands 6 feet high and is weighs 175 pounds. Newman shows great potential in the batter’s box, on the base paths, as well as on defense. He is also the only player who has back to back batting titles in the Cape Cod Baseball League while playing for the Falmouth Commodores.
Offensively, the short stop shows high upside in developing into a gap hitter. Lacking muscle, Newman relies on hitting the ball away from the defense by any means necessary. When he is able to get on base, which is often, he has the ability to out run throws and steal bases frequently.
So far this season the right handed batter has an average of .370, on base percentage of .426, 22 extra base hits and 22 stolen bases. Newman has good range in the infield; however, there have already whispers that he may not stay at short stop as he develops through the Pirates minor league system.
The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted a young man who does not strikeout very often, shows good discipline, can hit well and shows sparks of being a plus gap hitter. This particular drafted was nicknamed “The Draft of the Short Stops” as Newman was the fifth short stop taken in the first round.
Pittsburgh will pick next at 32, a compensation pick from Toronto after they signed catcher Russell Martin to a 5 year $82 million over the offseason.
