Kevin Newman
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 28 2025Newman went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman gave the Angels some separation with his long ball in the seventh inning. The reserve infielder has gotten a look at shortstop lately, though that is likely to be a short-term opportunity while Zach Neto (shoulder) is on the mend. The homer was Newman's first of the season to go with eight RBI, nine runs scored, one stolen base, two doubles and a .202/.212/.262 slash line across 86 plate appearances this season. When the Angels are fully healthy in the infield, Newman's best shot at playing time comes at third base, where he can offer a challenge to the switch hitting Luis Rengifo.
Jun 26 2025Newman (personal) was reinstated from the paternity list Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will return to action after being away from the team for three days while attending the birth of his child. The 31-year-old has produced a .222 average with a double, an RBI and four runs scored over 27 at-bats in June.
Jun 23 2025The Angels placed Newman on the paternity list Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll likely miss the entirety of the Angels' three-game series against the Red Sox before returning for the weekend set versus the Nationals. Kyren Paris is absorbing Newman's roster spot.
Jun 22 2025Newman (ankle) will start at shortstop and bat eighth Sunday against the Astros, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has been dealing with a minor ankle injury the past few days but will return to the field for Sunday's series finale. The veteran infielder has seen sporadic playing time this season and has a .203/.213/.230 slash line in 76 plate appearances.
Jun 19 2025Newman was removed from Thursday's game against the Yankees in the seventh inning with an ankle injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman was sore after twisting his ankle, but he expected to be available to play Friday versus the Astros. He went hitless in three plate appearances Thursday before departing.
Jun 4 2025Newman will start at third base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will enter the lineup for the first time since May 26, manning the hot corner while Luis Rengifo rests for the series finale. With Yoan Moncada (knee) on the shelf, Rengifo is expected to serve as the Angels' primary option at third base for the foreseeable future, leaving playing time up for grabs at the keystone. Newman is expected to factor into the mix for reps at second base, but the Angels are also likely to give opportunities to Chris Taylor and Scott Kingery.
Apr 6 2025Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With just one hit through his first 13 at-bats of the season, Newman has begun to lose playing time and will now hit the bench for the third time in four games. Tim Anderson will draw a second straight start at shortstop and seems to have at least temporarily leapfrogged Newman on the depth chart.
Apr 5 2025Newman is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Guardians, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has been losing quite a bit of playing time recently due to his poor start, though he finally managed to log his first hit of the new season during Friday's loss. Tim Anderson will start in Newman's place at shortstop Saturday and bat ninth.
Apr 2 2025Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will take a seat for the third time in four games as the Angels continue to take a committee approach to the shortstop spot while Zach Neto (shoulder) remains on the injured list. Nicky Lopez will draw his first start of the season at shortstop after Newman and Tim Anderson combined to go 1-for-20 with six strikeouts through the first five games.
Mar 30 2025Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Zach Neto (shoulder) on the shelf, Newman began the season as the Angels' top shortstop, starting the team's first two games while going 0-for-6 with a strikeout. He'll give way to Tim Anderson at shortstop Sunday, and Newman will likely need to pick up the pace at the plate if he's to remain atop the depth chart.
Mar 3 2025Newman has a "leg up on the competition" to open the season as the Angels' starting shortstop while Zach Neto (shoulder) is sidelined, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tim Anderson and Scott Kingery are Newman's chief competitors for the gig, but Newman is the safest choice since he's on a guaranteed contract and offers the steadiest glove of the group. While Neto has already been ruled out for Opening Day, it's not yet clear whether he will miss closer to the first week or the first month of the season. Newman slashed .278/.311/.375 with three homers over 111 games in 2024 with the Diamondbacks.
Nov 14 2024The Angels signed Newman to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with a $2.5 million club option for 2026 on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran infielder could be the current favorite to open next season at shortstop for the Angels if Zach Neto (shoulder) isn't ready. Newman slashed .278/.311/.375 with three homers and eight steals in 111 games for the Diamondbacks in 2024 and graded out as a plus-four in Outs Above Average at shortstop.
Sep 8 2024Newman started at second base and went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 11-5 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Ketel Marte being brought back slowly from an ankle injury -- he was the DH for a second straight game -- Newman got the start at second base against a left-hander. His solo blast in the fourth inning, when Arizona was still in the game, was his third homer of the season and first since April 26. Newman's in the middle of a nice run, going 8-for-18 with a home run and five RBI over his last six games and notching multiple hits in four of them.
Aug 25 2024Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman finds himself on the bench for the fourth game in a row, with all of those absences coming against right-handed pitching. He looks set to occupy the short side of a platoon at second base with Luis Guillorme while Ketel Marte (ankle) is on the injured list.
Aug 21 2024Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will hit the bench for the series finale after he had occupied the keystone for each of the Diamondbacks' last four contests while going 3-for-15 at the plate. With Ketel Marte (ankle) on the shelf, the Diamondbacks will have a regular spot at second base open for the foreseeable future, but it's unclear if manager Torey Lovullo has settled on Newman as the primary option. The Diamondbacks signed Luis Guillorme on Tuesday, and he'll check into the lineup at second base a day later for what will be his team debut. Guillorme bats from the left side, so the Diamondbacks could have him fill the strong side of a platoon with the right-handed-hitting Newman.
Aug 20 2024Newman started at second base and went 0-for-3 in Monday's 9-6 win over Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman filled in at second base for the injured Ketel Marte (ankle), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. Newman, who had seen a spike in playing time while Marte was day-to-day for the previous 10 days, should be the primary second baseman while Marte is unavailable.
Aug 19 2024Newman started at second base and went 1-for-5 with a run scored in Sunday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman remained at second base in place of Ketel Marte, who was held out of the starting lineup then aggravated an ankle injury during a pinch hitting appearance. Marte had returned to the lineup as the DH for Saturday's contest with the intent to bring him back slowly. If the Diamondbacks choose to place Marte on the 10-day injured list, Newman would be part of the crew that helps fill the void at second base. Blaze Alexander is also an option.
Aug 18 2024Newman started at second base and went 2-for-4 in Saturday's 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has seen a spike in playing time over the past week while covering for injured second baseman Ketel Marte, who returned from an ankle injury Saturday as the designated hitter. Marte is expected to be brought back slowly, and Newman's presence in starting lineups could come to an end Sunday or shortly thereafter.
Aug 12 2024Newman is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman had started in four of the past five games, but he benefited from the Diamondbacks facing two left-handed starters during that stretch and from Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo resting once apiece in the other two matchups versus right-handed starters. Even after getting on base four times in Sunday's 12-5 win over the Phillies, Newman's playing time is likely to remain sporadic moving forward.
Jul 31 2024Newman went 2-for-5 with a steal and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman logged his second straight two-hit game and swiped his fourth bag of the year and his first since June 13. He got the start at first base, but his path to extra playing time may have been closed off by the Diamondbacks' acquisition of Josh Bell from the Marlins on Tuesday to fill the void left by Christian Walker's oblique injury. Newman will continue to play a utility role off the bench for the most part, and he is now slashing .277/.307/.385 with two homers, 22 RBI, 31 runs and a 10:32 BB:K in 229 plate appearances.
Jul 30 2024Newman entered Monday's game after Christian Walker (oblique) was removed following the third inning and went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in a 9-8 win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Walker is set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury, which could lead to steadier playing time for Newman. The utility infielder was a common feature in Arizona's lineup earlier in the season, but his playing time dried up when Geraldo Perdomo came off the injured list in June. If Walker's injury requires significant downtime, the Diamondbacks could make a move to add a player with more familiarity at first base than Newman, who has 10 games of experience at the position during his MLB career.
Jul 7 2024Newman started at second base and went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 extra-inning win over San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman, who replaced Ketel Marte (back) at second base during Friday's game, got the start Saturday. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Marte had dealt with occasional stiffness for several days leading up to Friday's removal. The injury is not believed to be serious, per MLB.com. Newman will likely fill in at second for as long as Marte is sidelined.
Jul 6 2024Newman replaced Ketel Marte (back) at second base after Marte was removed in the eighth inning from Friday's 10-8 loss to San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman entered as a pinch hitter earlier and stayed in the game at DH before taking over for Marte, who has been nursing a sore back. Marte told manager Torey Lovullo that he was unable to hit, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Marte is day-to-day, which means Newman will be at the ready to take over at second base for as long as needed.
Jun 14 2024Newman started at shortstop and went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's 11-1 over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning, then after stealing his third bag of the season, trotted home on Joc Pederson's grand slam. Newman made his first start in three games; he had been the primary shortstop until Geraldo Perdomo was activated off the IL on Tuesday. Newman will work in a utility role and could see action all around the infield, although he's only appeared at shortstop and second base so far in 2024.
Jun 12 2024Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll sit for the second day in a row and looks set to see a steep reduction in playing time moving forward after the Diamondbacks brought back top shortstop Geraldo Perdomo from the injured list Tuesday. Newman joined the Diamondbacks in the second week of the season following Perdomo's placement on the IL and hit .266 with two home runs and two stolen bases over 49 games.
Jun 7 2024Newman is out of the lineup for Friday's game against San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old will yield to Blaze Alexander on Friday despite Newman a six-game hit streak. On the year, Newman is slashing .260/.294/.377 with a 14.8 percent strikeout rate in 155 plate appearances.
Jun 3 2024Newman is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he's coming off a productive weekend against the Mets in which he went 4-for-14 with a walk, a stolen base, three runs and an RBI in the four-game series, Newman will get a much-needed breather. Newman had started at shortstop in each of Arizona's last 21 games, but he'll give way to Blaze Alexander on Monday.
May 20 2024Newman went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Monday's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has five multi-hit efforts over his last nine games, going 15-for-31 (.484) in that span. The shortstop still isn't hitting for a lot of power, but he's been able to make decent contact. For the season, he has a .276/.311/.439 slash line with two home runs, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored, a stolen base, eight doubles and a triple over 103 plate appearances. Newman should continue to handle the starting job at shortstop at least until Geraldo Perdomo (knee) is able to return, likely in early June.
May 14 2024Newman went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in Monday's 6-5 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman ended the night with a walk-off, two-run single off Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz, who had hit a batter and walked two before the shortstop played hero. It was the third consecutive game with multiple hits for Newman, who is 8-for-12 with four doubles, a triple, two RBI and four runs scored during that stretch. He's added 74 points to his batting average -- from .179 to .253 -- due to this outburst and is more in line with his career mark of .259. He had become the team's primary shortstop, because his glove was more reliable than rookie Blaze Alexander. Newman should continue to serve that role until Geraldo Perdomo (knee) is ready, which is expected to be at some point in June.
May 9 2024Newman is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will retreat to the bench after he started each of the past three games at shortstop while going 3-for-12 with a run scored. Blaze Alexander will spell Newman at shortstop in the series finale.
May 8 2024Newman will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will make his third straight start at shortstop -- all against right-handed pitching -- and looks to have supplanted Blaze Alexander as the Diamondbacks' preferred option at the position while the team waits for Geraldo Perdomo (knee) to return from the injured list. Though he's turned in a poor .559 OPS through 62 plate appearances with Arizona this season, Newman has been a much more polished defender at shortstop than Alexander.
May 1 2024Newman is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's outing versus the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old infielder will get a break with Blaze Alexander starting at shortstop Wednesday as the Diamondbacks finish out their series against Los Angeles. Newman has started at shortstop in six of Arizona's last 10 games and is slashing .157/.189/.314 on the season.
Apr 27 2024Newman started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-1 loss to Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman homered for the second time in the last three games. He's started four straight and six of the last seven, more opportunities than had been expected for him when his contract was selected earlier this month. A combination of Geraldo Perdomo's knee injury and a Blaze Alexander's brief hamstring absence contributed to the spike in play. Alexander returned to action Wednesday and should get the bulk of starts at shortstop until Perdomo is ready, although Newman's defense has been better than Alexander's thus far. Newman is batting .186 (8-for-43) with a walk, two doubles, two homers and eight RBI over 14 games.
Apr 24 2024Newman went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 14-1 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman launched his first home run of the season as part of Arizona's six-run fifth inning. He made a second consecutive start at shortstop while Blaze Alexander tended to a hamstring injury that the Diamondbacks do not consider serious. Newman is batting .189 over 12 games.
Apr 21 2024Newman entered Sunday's 5-3 win over the Giants to play shortstop after Blaze Alexander (hamstring) was removed. Newman went 1-for-2 with a double and RBI. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman, who replaced Alexander to start the bottom of the fifth inning, doubled home what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the ninth. Alexander's injury was described as a cramp, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, which doesn't sound too serious The Diamondbacks are limited at shortstop after designating Jace Peterson, leaving Newman or possibly Ketel Marte to fill in if Alexander's unable to play Monday in St. Louis.
Apr 13 2024Newman started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-6 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman made a fourth start over the last five games, once at second base and three times at shortstop, all coming against lefty starters. He'll continue to be part of the mix at short with Blaze Alexander and to a lesser extent, Jace Peterson.
Apr 9 2024Newman started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 7-5 loss to the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started for a second consecutive game after holding down second base in Sunday's loss to Atlanta. Shortstop will be an amalgam of bodies while Geraldo Perdomo (knee) recovers from surgery to repair a torn right meniscus that is expected to keep him out of action for about a month. Blaze Alexander started at short Saturday and Jace Peterson the day prior. It's unclear if this will be a strict platoon moving forward; Arizona faces righty Cal Quantrill on Tuesday, which could favor the left-handed hitting Peterson.
Apr 7 2024Newman started at second base and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Diamondbacks selected Newman's contract from Triple-A Reno after Geraldo Perdomo (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list. He'll require surgery and is expected to miss at least one month. Newman has experience all around the infield and could get starts against left-handers, as was the case Sunday. Blaze Alexander, another right-handed hitter, started at shortstop Sunday.
Mar 27 2024Newman became a free agent Wednesday after opting out of the minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rather than reporting to Triple-A Reno after being informed a few days ago that he wouldn't be part of Arizona's Opening Day roster, Newman will head to the open market and pursue opportunities with another organization. The 30-year-old is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he slashed .253/.311/.364 over 253 plate appearances with the Reds while seeing time at all four infield positions.
Jan 3 2024Newman signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday that includes and invitation to spring training, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman, 30, spent the 2023 campaign in Cincinnati, slashing .253/.311/.364 with three homers and eight steals in 74 contests. He'll try to win a utility role in Arizona, with most of his playing time perhaps coming versus lefties, against whom Newman posted an .813 OPS last season.
Sep 27 2023Newman was released by the Reds on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman had been designated for assignment earlier this week, and he's now officially a free agent. The veteran infielder might have to settle for a minor-league contract this offseason after putting up just a .619 OPS over the last four seasons.
Sep 25 2023Newman (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday and designated for assignment. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has recovered from his oblique injury after missing more than a month of action, but the Reds no longer see a fit for him on the big-league roster. The 30-year-old will now go through the waiver process and is likely to go unclaimed, given his $2.66 million salary.
Sep 5 2023Newman (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Louisville. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: On the shelf since Aug. 19 because of a left oblique strain, Newman looks poised to return to the Reds' active roster around the end of this week. The 30-year-old infielder was slashing .253/.311/.364 with three homers and eight steals through 74 games for Cincinnati prior to the injury.
Aug 19 2023The Reds placed Newman on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain (retroactive to Aug. 16). ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman was previously on the injured list with an illness in late July, and now an oblique injury will force him out for at least another week. Top prospect Noelvi Marte was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
Aug 8 2023Newman started at second base and went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's 5-2 win over Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman swiped second base in the fourth inning but was stranded there. It was his eighth steal in 70 games. He plays a part-time role for the Reds but has experienced a slight uptick in opportunities with Jonathan India (foot) on the injured list. India had been expected to be activated Tuesday, but the Reds pushed his return back to Friday.
Aug 7 2023Newman is starting at second base and batting seventh in Monday's contest versus the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Eury Perez is taking the ball for Miami, marking the first time since June 18 that Newman has been in the lineup against a right-hander. Matt McLain is receiving a day off.
Jul 30 2023Newman served as a pinch hitter and knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman pinch hit for Jake Fraley against left-hander Caleb Ferguson and knocked in Elly De La Cruz for the first Cincinnati run. Newman was activated off the injured list last Monday but hadn't appeared in a game since. He's normally in the lineup against southpaws, but the Reds haven't seen a lefty starter since he rejoined the active roster.
Jul 24 2023Newman (illness) was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman missed the minimum 10 days due to a bout with gastritis. He'll go back to playing regularly against left-handed pitching.
Jul 17 2023Newman was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with gastritis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move was retroactive to Friday, so Newman will be eligible for activation on July 24, and he should be ready to go by then or shortly after. Newman has been a useful short-side platoon guy this season with a .901 OPS versus lefties.
Jul 4 2023Newman is starting at first base and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Nats throwing left-hander Patrick Corbin, Newman will be at the top of the order while TJ Friedl slides down to the No. 8 spot. Joey Votto is getting the day off.
Jun 25 2023Newman went 0-for-1 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-6 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has gotten on base safely in all but one of his last seven games, and he's added two steals and four RBI in that span. The infielder's playing time is on the decline with the Reds' infield at full health, and he'll likely be confined to a short-side platoon role going forward. Newman has a .266/.325/.380 slash line with three home runs, 26 RBI, 22 runs scored and six steals through 206 plate appearances this season.
Jun 21 2023Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Newman started in five of the Reds' last seven games, he'll likely be limited to a short-side platoon role moving forward. With Joey Votto's recent return from the 60-day injured list, the Cincinnati infield is looking more crowded these days, and Newman will find himself as the odd man out more often than not.
Jun 11 2023Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman is on the bench for the second straight game and may be limited to a part-time role moving forward while rookies Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain have emerged as regulars on the left side of the infield, which has resulted in third baseman Spencer Steer moving to the other side of the diamond of late. Playing time could be even tougher for Newman to attain once Nick Senzel (knee), Joey Votto (shoulder), Jake Fraley (wrist), Wil Myers (shoulder) and Henry Ramos (hip) are all back from the injured list.
Jun 6 2023Newman is starting at first base and batting seventh Tuesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman might get dinged a bit on playing time with the arrival of top prospect Elly De La Cruz, but the Reds will keep the veteran infielder in the mix Tuesday versus the Dodgers and right-hander Tony Gonsolin. De La Cruz is at third base in his MLB debut. Spencer Steer will play left field.
Jun 1 2023Newman is in the leadoff spot again Thursday at Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman also batted at the top of the Reds' lineup Wednesday and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. He's slashing .323/.417/.387 in 72 plate appearances since the beginning of May and has recently become Cincinnati's preferred tablesetter versus left-handed pitching opponents. Chris Sale is on the bump for the Red Sox on Thursday.
May 31 2023Newman will start at third base and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As usual, the righty-hitting Newman will find himself in the lineup versus a lefty (James Paxton), but he'll be hitting higher than fifth in the order for just the second time all season. He has been swinging a hot bat of late with four multi-hit efforts in his last five contests.
May 29 2023Newman went 2-for-2 with three walks and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman miraculously reached base in all five of his at bats and never scored a run even with the Reds totaling eight runs in Sunday's contest. It didn't help that the two guys hitting behind him combined to go 0-for-9, but Newman has now put together four straight multi-hit games and has raised his batting average 40 points over that span. The Reds' infield is too crowded at the moment for Newman to see consistent playing time, but he'll continue to be given opportunities while he's swinging a hot bat.
May 10 2023Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman had started in eight of the Reds' last nine games, but with all of the key Cincinnati hitters healthy again with the exception of Joey Votto (shoulder), Newman looks as though he'll serve as a utility man moving forward rather than an everyday starter. He should at least continue to see regular playing time versus left-handed pitching, however.
May 6 2023Newman went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start at shortstop and batting eighth, Newman picked up his first steal of the season in the third inning before coming home on a TJ Friedl double. Newman has started six straight games and eight of the last nine, spotting in all around the infield, but he's batting just .258 (8-for-31) over that stretch with zero extra-base hits, three runs and three RBI. Despite the increased playing time, Newman's fantasy value remains mainly limited to NL-only formats.
May 1 2023Newman will start at third base and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has indirectly benefited from Wil Myers (illness) having recently joined Joey Votto (shoulder) on the injured list. As a result of the absences of Myers and Votto, Spencer Steer has shifted across the diamond to log more time at first base of late, opening up more work in the infield for Newman in the process. Newman will pick up his third straight start after he went 3-for-8 with a walk, two RBI and a run between the final two games of the Reds' weekend series in Oakland.
Apr 5 2023Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will take a seat for the day game after a night game, allowing Jose Barrero (hamstring) to get a turn at shortstop. While starting in each of the previous four contests, Newman went 3-for-15 with a home run and four RBI.
Apr 1 2023Newman went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's victory over Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Known mostly as contact-oriented, singles hitter, Newman provided a rare glimpse at his power in the first inning with his homer off lefty Rich Hill to give Cincinnati the lead. Newman served as the DH and No. 5 hitter Saturday after opening the season on the bench against right-hander Mitch Keller.
Feb 27 2023Newman (illness) will start at shortstop and bat fifth in Monday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman didn't appear in the Reds' first two Cactus League games over the weekend after he missed a few workouts due to a bout with food poisoning, but the veteran infielder looks like he's good to go heading into the first full week of exhibition play. The 29-year-old is the likely frontrunner for the Opening Day starting nod at shortstop, though he'll have to fend off Jose Barrero for those duties during spring training.
Feb 21 2023Newman is away from Reds camp Tuesday due to food poisoning, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman should be fine after a day or two of rest and treatment. The 29-year-old signed a one-year, $2.662 million free-agent contract with Cincinnati in January and will likely open the 2023 season as the club's everyday shortstop.
Jan 13 2023Newman signed a one-year, $2.662 million contract with the Reds on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman turned in his best season at the plate since 2019 last season, hitting .274 over 288 at-bats. However, walks and extra-base hits were both few and far between for the 29-year-old infielder, keeping his OPS at .688 on the year. He will most likely be used as the Reds' everyday shortstop in 2023, but his offensive production is unlikely to surge once again.
Nov 18 2022The Pirates traded Newman to the Reds on Friday in exchange for right-hander Dauri Moreta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cincinnati traded Kyle Farmer to the Twins earlier Friday, and Newman will essentially replace Farmer as the top utility player off the Reds' bench. While Newman provides little power, he has good bat-to-ball skills and a little speed. Newman finished with a .288 average (15-for-52) and three steals in his final 15 games last season.
Sep 27 2022Newman went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored Monday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman reached base three times to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He's hit .314 with four RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases in that span. Despite hitting well, Newman could lose some playing time across the final week of the season as the Pirates look to keep Rodolfo Castro and Ji-hwan Bae in the lineup.
Sep 24 2022Newman went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base Friday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started at shortstop and hit fifth, with Oneil Cruz serving as the Pirates' designated hitter. Newman is riding a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 8-for-27 with a home run, three RBI, two runs scored and three stolen bases. For the season, he owns a .274/.312/.376 line across 281 plate appearances.
Sep 23 2022Newman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman took Hayden Wesneski deep in the seventh inning to record his second home run of the season. He has started two of three games since returning from an undisclosed issue, and he's slugged a homer and stolen a base in that span. However, the infield has gotten more crowded in Pittsburgh due to the promotion of Ji-hwan Bae, so Newman could lose playing time over the final few weeks of the season.
Sep 20 2022Newman went 2-for-5 with a stolen base Tuesday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman made his first start since Sept. 14 after an absence caused by an undisclosed issue. He extended his hitting streak to five games in his return to the lineup and also managed to swipe his seventh base of the season. Though he's maintained a respectable .275 average across 273 plate appearances this season, Newman still has just a .298 wOBA and 90 wRC+.
Sep 17 2022Newman (undisclosed) isn't starting Saturday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman exited Wednesday's game against the Reds with an apparent injury and will remain out of the lineup for a third consecutive game. Whether he's available off the bench Saturday remains to be seen.
Sep 16 2022Newman (undisclosed) remains on the bench Friday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman left Wednesday's game against the Reds with an apparent injury after crashing into the wall while chasing a foul ball. He didn't take part in Thursday's contest and won't be involved from the start Friday, either. He hasn't been an everyday player, so there's no guarantee that his absence is injury-related, but his consecutive absences make that seem like the likely reason.
Sep 15 2022Newman (undisclosed) isn't starting Thursday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman exited Wednesday's win over Cincinnati due to an apparent injury, and he'll be out of the lineup a day later. It's not yet clear whether his absence is due to his injury or whether he'll be available off the bench, but Rodolfo Castro will start at the keystone and bat third.
Sep 14 2022Newman was removed from Wednesday's win over the Reds due to an apparent injury, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman went into the stands in an attempt to catch a foul ball in the bottom of the ninth inning and appeared to be shaken up afterward. He was immediately replaced defensively, although the nature and severity of his injury aren't yet clear. The 29-year-old should tentatively be considered day-to-day ahead of Thursday's series opener against the Mets.
Sep 4 2022Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman looks to be moving into more of a part-time role as the season winds down, as he'll take a seat for the third time in six games despite not having dealt with an injury during that stretch. Tucupita Marcano will fill in at the keystone Sunday, but Rodolfo Castro may end up being the Pirates' primary option at the position once third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes shakes off his shoulder injury.
Sep 2 2022Newman will sit Friday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman finds himself on the bench for the third time in the last five games. A lack of walks and power has limited him to a modest .707 OPS despite a .281 batting average, though he's hit the ball well over his last five appearances, grabbing eight hits. Rodolfo Castro will be the second baseman Friday.
Aug 30 2022Newman is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman tallied two hits in Monday's game, but he will take a seat Tuesday in favor of Rodolfo Castro, who homered twice and racked up five hits over his last three games.
Aug 28 2022Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will get a breather after batting .291 with a home run and 10 additional runs while starting in each of the Pirates' last 14 contests. Tucupita Marcano will fill in at the keystone for Newman in the series finale in Philadelphia.
Aug 24 2022Newman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman took Kirby Yates yard in the ninth inning to record his first homer of the season. Despite the lack of power, Newman has recorded five multi-hit performances in his last 14 starts -- good for a .291 average. For the season, Newman is hitting .267 with 23 runs scored and five stolen bases across 52 games.
Aug 20 2022Newman went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored Friday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman extended his hitting streak to five games, three of which have been multi-hit efforts. He's hitting .500 in the span while also tallying nine runs scored. Newman is locked into a spot toward the top of the Pirates lineup and is currently maintaining a .281/.323/.378 line across 198 plate appearances for the season.
Aug 19 2022Newman went 3-for-4 with three runs scored Thursday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman seems to have settled into the second spot in the order with right-handers on the mound, hitting behind Tucupita Marcano. Thursday's effort extended Newman's hitting streak to four games, and he has seven runs scored in that span. Though there's little power in his profile, Newman has maintained a .276 average with five stolen bases, 21 runs scored and 15 RBI across 47 games this season.
Aug 11 2022Newman is not in the starting lineup Thursday versus the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will get a breather after he went 3-for-10 with a run scored and a stolen base in the first two games of the series. Tucupita Marcano will slide over to second base while Greg Allen enters the lineup in left field and bats seventh in the series finale.
Aug 4 2022Newman isn't starting Thursday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started the last seven games and hit .367 with a triple, four doubles, three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. Tucupita Marcano will take over at second base and lead off Thursday.
Jul 31 2022Newman went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 8-2 loss to the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman swiped second base after singling in the first inning before doubling and scoring a run in the third. It was his fourth stolen base of the year and third in his last 12 games. In 18 games since returning from the injured list, Newman has gone 23-for-73 (.315) with eight runs scored and nine extra-base hits. He's slashing .289/.338/.421 through 32 games this season.
Jul 29 2022Newman went 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base, two RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman occupied his typical leadoff role with the Pirates and has started 14 of 16 games since returning from the injured list July 8. In that span, he's hit .271 with six RBI and six runs scored while also chipping in two stolen bases. Depite the poor state of the Pirates' offense, Newman has a significant role and could be a decent source of runs, stolen bases and batting average across the final two months of the campaign.
Jul 25 2022Newman isn't starting Monday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started the last three games and went 1-for-11 with a double, a run, two walks and three strikeouts. Josh VanMeter is shifting to the keystone while Michael Chavis starts at first base.
Jul 17 2022Newman went 3-for-6 with a double, two runs and two RBI in an 8-3 win against the Rockies on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman scored after reaching on an error in the first inning, singled in the second, doubled and scored in the sixth and brought home two runs with a single in the ninth. The three-hit performance is the middle infielder's second of the month as he's batting .300 through 40 July at-bats, though he has just one walk and three extra-base hits -- all of them doubles -- in 10 games.
Jul 15 2022Newman went 0-for-3 with a walk Thursday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has served as Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter in four of the team's last five games -- each of which has come against lefties. He has been productive in that span, collecting six hits in 19 at-bats to go along with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. In particular, his ability to be aggressive on the basepaths is encouraging given that he returned from a groin injury July 9.
Jul 13 2022Newman isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started in the last five games and hit .364 with a double, two runs and two RBI during that time. Josh VanMeter will draw the start at second base and lead off.
Jul 11 2022Newman went 2-for-5 with an RBI on Sunday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman was activated from the injured list Friday and has started all three games since at second base. He has gone 4-for-13 in that span, scoring a run and tallying an RBI. Newman's return will have the potential to squeeze both Michael Chavis and Josh VanMeter from a regular spot in Pittsburgh's lineup.
Jul 10 2022Newman will start at second base and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though rookie Oneil Cruz took over as Pittsburgh's everyday shortstop during his prolonged stay on the injured list, Newman looks like he'll get regular run at second base after being activated Friday. He'll man the keystone for the third straight game Sunday after going 2-for-8 with a run scored in the previous two contests.
Jul 8 2022Newman (groin) was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old began the season as Pittsburgh's starting shortstop but has been sidelined since late April with a strained groin, and prospect Oneil Cruz was promoted and claimed the starting role in his absence. Newman is expected to fill a utility role now that he's healthy and should see most of his playing time at second base and shortstop. He hit .250/.308/.375 with eight RBI, four runs and a stolen base in 14 games prior to the injury.
Jul 4 2022Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Newman (groin/hamstring) will see time at both shortstop and second base once he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman served as Pittsburgh's primary shortstop in 2021 and opened the current season atop the depth chart at the position before landing on the IL in late April with a left groin strain. He then suffering a hamstring injury during his initial rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis in late May, resulting in his timeline for a return being pushed back. Newman restarted the minor-league assignment June 21 and has slashed .419/.424/.484 in his eight games with Indianapolis, likely setting him up to rejoin the big club this week. He'll be joining a Pirates club that has prioritized younger options in recent weeks, most notably installing hotshot rookie Oneil Cruz as its full-time shortstop. Though Cherington indicated Cruz "doesn't need to be at shortstop every day," the expectation is that the 28-year-old Newman will have to settle for more of a utility role while Cruz continues to see the bulk of the starts at shortstop.
Jun 20 2022Newman (groin/hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman is one of three injured Pirates position players who will kick off his rehab assignment at Indianapolis this week, with first baseman/designated hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo (back) and infielder Josh VanMeter (finger) set to join him. Prior to landing on the injured list, both Newman and VanMeter were holding down regular roles in the middle infield, but both could have to settle for reserve duties upon their respective returns. Top prospect Oneil Cruz was called up from Indianapolis on Monday and should serve as the Pirates' everyday shortstop moving forward, likely leaving Newman and VanMeter to vie for time at the keystone with a pair of rookies -- Diego Castillo and Tucupita Marcano (illness) -- once they're activated from the IL.
Jun 15 2022Newman (groin/hamstring) has progressed in his recovery and will be considered for a rehab assignment within the next five days, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old has been participating in all baseball activities without pain for at least a week, and he's now on the cusp of a minor-league rehab assignment. Newman was on the injured list for a month with the groin injury when he suffered a hamstring injury in late May, so he'll likely require at least a handful of games in the minors to get back up to speed.
Jun 8 2022Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Newman (groin) is pain-free with all baseball activities, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman resumed running Sunday and continues to build up while participating in all baseball activities. The 28-year-old isn't eligible to return from the 60-day IL until June 26, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him begin a rehab assignment in the coming weeks prior to rejoining the major-league club.
Jun 5 2022Newman (groin) has started running Sunday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is eligible to return June 26 and it seems like that could be achievable. The Pirates have deserving young middle-infield options in Diego Castillo and Tucupita Marcano, so it remains to be seen how much Newman will play once healthy.
May 25 2022Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Newman (groin/hamstring) hasn't yet resumed baseball activities, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman suffered a hamstring-related setback during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list Monday. The 28-year-old isn't eligible to return until at least late June following Monday's transaction, and he's received treatment since suffering his setback. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to resume baseball activities.
May 23 2022Newman (groin/hamstring) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Monday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has been sidelined since late April due to a groin injury, and he recently suffered a hamstring-related setback during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis. The 28-year-old's setback is apparently relatively significant, as he'll now be unavailable until at least late June. A better idea of his return timetable should come into focus once he's cleared for another rehab stint. Rodolfo Castro has been serving as the Pirates' primary shortstop in Newman's absence.
May 22 2022Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Newman (groin) suffered a hamstring-related setback during the infielder's rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman most recently played for Indianapolis on Friday, when he presumably experienced hamstring pain that Cherington notes is unrelated to the strained left groin that first sent him to the injured list in late April. Cherington added that the hamstring issue is on the minor side for Newman, but the 28-year-old looks like he'll be held out of action for at least a few days before restarting his rehab assignment. Fantasy managers should probably plan on him missing at least another week.
May 17 2022Newman (groin) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After incorporating running workouts into his regimen of baseball activities late last week, Newman showed enough progress in his recovery from the left groin strain to advance to the final stage of his rehab program. He'll most likely play in at least two games at Indianapolis before potentially rejoining the Pirates for the start of their homestand Friday. Once activated from the 10-day injured list, Newman should settle back in as the Pirates' everyday shortstop, leaving Rodolfo Castro and Diego Castillo to battle Josh VanMeter for playing time at second base.
May 11 2022Newman (groin) is expected to begin a rehab assignment "in the coming days," Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will test his injury by running the bases by the end of the week. Assuming that goes well, he'll begin what will likely be a relatively lengthy rehab assignment. Newman was expected to miss 3-to-5 weeks after landing on the injured list April 27, and he appears likely to return in the middle of that estimate.
May 4 2022Newman (groin) has resumed all baseball activities except running, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has been on the injured list for a week, and it's encouraging to see him participate in most baseball activities. The 28-year-old Is expected to miss 3-to-5 weeks due to his left groin strain and will need to resume running before he's cleared to progress further in his recovery process.
Apr 26 2022Newman was removed from Tuesday's game against the Brewers with left groin tightness, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman missed three games with a left groin injury before returning to action last week, and it appears he aggravated the injury Tuesday. The 28-year-old went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run prior to exiting the contest and should be considered day-to-day.
Apr 24 2022Newman went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a walk in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman drew a walk in the second inning and followed it up with an RBI double in the third off of Justin Steele. He finished topped off his big day with a fifth-inning single and raised his average to .222 through 45 at-bats. Sunday's performance was his first multi-hit game of the year.
Apr 22 2022Newman went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base Friday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman tallied his only hit of the game in the second inning. He then proceeded to steal second base -- his first of the season -- and came around to score on a base hit by Roberto Perez. Newman has been in the Pirates' lineup four times in the last five matchups, and he's recorded three hits in 16 at-bats with two runs scored in that span.
Apr 21 2022Newman isn't starting Thursday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started in the last three games and went 2-for-11 with a run. Hoy Park will take over at shortstop and bat ninth Thursday.
Apr 18 2022Newman (groin) is starting Monday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman missed three consecutive games due to a groin issue, but he'll be back in the lineup for Monday's series opener in Milwaukee. He hit .217 with a triple, three doubles, five RBI and a run in his first six appearances of the year.
Apr 17 2022Newman (groin) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will miss his third game in a row on account of the groin issue. Diego Castillo will draw the start at shortstop in place of Newman, who is being viewed as day-to-day. In the event Newman's groin forces him to the injured list, the Pirates could bring up top prospect Oneil Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis to step in as the team's everyday shortstop.
Apr 16 2022Newman is considered day-to-day with a groin injury, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has been out of the lineup Friday and Saturday, though no injury had been announced. It's unclear whether the issue will cause a stint on the injured list. Cole Tucker and Hoy Park have gotten looks as shortstop in Newman's absence, while Oneil Cruz awaits a promotion at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Apr 15 2022Newman is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started the first six games of the season and has a hit in all but one contest, going 5-for-23 with a triple, three doubles, five RBI and a run. Hoy Park will shift to shortstop Friday in place of Newman, while Diego Casto starts at the keystone.
Apr 13 2022Newman went 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two RBI on Wednesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman delivered a two-RBI triple in the third inning to put the Pirates up 5-1. Though he has a .097 ISO across 1,371 career plate appearacnes, Newman has quietly started the 2022 campaign with some pop in his bat. Across 21 plate appearances, he has delivered two doubles and a triple, and he has also tallied one hit in four of his five starts.
Apr 11 2022Newman is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Pittsburgh and St. Louis are concluding their four-game series with a matinee contest, so Newman is likely just getting a breather for the start of a seven-game week for the Pirates. He started at shortstop in each of the first three games of the season, going 3-for-12 with two doubles and an RBI while slotting in fifth, ninth and sixth in the batting order. Hoy Park will draw the start at shortstop Monday, but Newman appears to be fairly secure in an everyday role in the middle infield.
Nov 30 2021Newman agreed to a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the Pirates to avoid arbitration Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was Newman's first year of arbitration eligibility, and he was able to reach a deal with the Pirates without needing an arbiter. The 28-year-old broke out in 2019 with a .799 OPS, but he's struggled over the past two seasons and hit just .226/.265/.309 in 148 games during 2021.
Oct 2 2021Newman isn't starting Saturday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a run and a strikeout in Friday's series opener, and he'll get a breather Saturday. Oneil Cruz will make his major-league debut at shortstop and bat eighth.
Oct 1 2021Newman went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-2 win over Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three of Newman's hits were singles, the biggest coming in the eighth inning to extend Pittsburgh's lead to 4-1. He came around to score on a Cole Tucker grand slam. Newman has a modest four-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 6-for-13 with three RBI and a pair of runs. He's still sitting on a lackluster .226/.265/.310 slash line through 550 plate appearances overall, and he's gone seven games without an extra-base hit.
Sep 29 2021Newman went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop's RBI came on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly. Newman has hit safely in just four of his last 10 games, going 6-for-37 (.162) in that span. He's slashing a meager .221/.259/.306 through 543 plate appearances in a near-everyday role for Pittsburgh. He's added just five home runs, six steals, 37 RBI and 48 runs scored in 145 games, which makes his breakout in 2019 look more like an outlier compared to his other three seasons.
Sep 21 2021Newman will not start Tuesday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman remains a regular despite the fact that he's hitting just .224/.261/.331 on the season. It will take quite a run over the final two weeks if he's to avoid finishing with an OPS south of .600 for the second straight season. Cole Tucker takes over at shortstop.
Sep 17 2021Newman will not start Friday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman's 0-for-3 day Thursday against the Reds ended an eight-game hitting streak. He'll hit the bench Friday as Cole Tucker takes over at shortstop.
Sep 11 2021Newman isn't starting Saturday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman recorded hits in each of his last four games and went 5-for-14 with a home run and three RBI during that time. Cole Tucker will shift to shortstop while Hoy Park draws the start at second base.
Sep 5 2021Newman is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cubs, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman is 4-for-34 across his past nine games and will head to the bench Sunday. Cole Tucker will start at shortstop and bat seventh in his place for the series finale at Chicago.
Sep 2 2021Newman isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has been in a slump recently, as he's hit just .077 with two RBI, a walk and three strikeouts across the last seven games. Cole Tucker will shift to shortstop while Wilmer Difo starts at the keystone.
Aug 22 2021Newman went 1-for-3 with a double in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His double accounted for the team's lone extra-base hit off of starter Adam Wainwright. Newman is hitting just .228 overall, but he's slashing .321/.339/.571 in his last 59 plate appearances (prior to Sunday). Given the catastrophic offensive first-half performance -- he compiled a .518 OPS in his first 74 games -- the infielder has plenty of incentive to salvage his season. Still, he's hit just four homers and stolen three bases in 423 plate appearances.
Aug 20 2021Newman is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has a .796 OPS through 15 games in August and finds himself on the bench for the third time in the past four games. Hoy Park will work at shortstop again for the Pirates.
Aug 18 2021Newman is not starting Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old went 0-for-4 on Tuesday and is now hitting .313 with six doubles and three RBI in his last 10 games. Hoy Park is playing shortstop and leading off Wednesday.
Aug 16 2021Newman isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will get a breather after he went 8-for-14 with six doubles, five runs and two RBI across the last four games. Hoy Park will start at shortstop and lead off.
Aug 14 2021Newman went 4-for-4 with four doubles, four runs scored and two RBI in a 14-4 win over the Brewers during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start at shortstop and batting eighth, Newman tied the major-league record with four two-baggers in a game. The 28-year-old has been flashing some extra-base power in August, batting .333 (11-for-33) through 11 games with seven doubles, but on the season he's still hitting just .226.
Aug 11 2021Newman isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will be out of the lineup for the third time in four games after he went 0-for-3 in Tuesday's loss. Hoy Park will shift to shortstop while Anthony Alford enters the lineup in left field, and Newman looks like he could be the odd man out while the Pirates remain interested in evaluating Park and Alford down the stretch.
Aug 8 2021Newman remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: On the bench for the second game in a row, Newman looks like he could be at risk of moving into more of a part-time role with the Pirates eager to take a look at Hoy Park, who will enter the lineup for the fifth time in six contests as the team's leadoff hitter. Newman is slashing an unremarkable .243/.269/.330 since the beginning of July, which hasn't helped his cause for receiving regular at-bats.
Aug 7 2021Newman isn't starting Saturday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman had started each of the last five games, and he went 5-for-19 with two doubles, two runs, two RBI, a stolen base and two walks. Hoy Park will start at shortstop and lead off.
Aug 1 2021Newman is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started the first two games of the series and will sit for the finale after going 3-for-7 with a triple, a double, three RBI and a run. Hoy Park will start at shortstop in his place Sunday.
Jul 29 2021Newman is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Wilfer Difo will step in at shortstop for Newman, who had started each of the last six games while going 6-for-23 at the dish. Following the Pirates' trade earlier this week that sent All-Star Adam Frazier to the Padres, Newman could take over as Pittsburgh's primary leadoff man versus left-handed pitching.
Jul 25 2021Newman went 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 10-2 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman hit four singles in the win, marking his first game of the year with three RBI and four hits. He is batting .246 in the month of July, which is his best month so far this season. The 27-year-old is slashing .216/.254/.274, much worse than his 2019 slash line of .308/.353/.446. To make matters worse, he is less of a stolen base threat this year with only two steals.
Jul 20 2021Newman is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman is 3-for-17 with two RBI and two runs in the first four games after the All-Star break and will receive the day off in Arizona. Wilmer Difo will take over at shortstop for the Buccos.
Jul 10 2021Newman will sit for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has done very little at the plate this season, hitting just .206/.249/.268. Cole Tucker takes over at shortstop in his absence, though Newman will likely return to the lineup for the nightcap.
Jul 6 2021Newman isn't starting Tuesday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman had gone 3-for-24 with a solo home run and two strikeouts across the last six games. He'll get a breather Tuesday while Wilmer Difo starts at shortstop and bats sixth.
Jul 5 2021Newman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The homer, his third of the season, gives him a .208 batting average and four extra-base hits in 106 plate appearances since the end of May. Aside from the infielder's .308 batting average in 2019, he's hit just .213 in his other three seasons. While Newman has struggled immensely, he figures to retain steady playing time, especially if the team trades starting second baseman Adam Frazier.
Jun 26 2021Newman isn't starting Saturday's game against St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak, and he's gone 6-for-16 with two doubles, two runs, a walk and a strikeout during that time. Erik Gonzalez will start at shortstop and bat seventh.
Jun 14 2021Newman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's loss to Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman put the Pirates on the board in the second inning with a solo homer over the fence in left, but the Nationals would rally to come away with a 3-2 victory. The 27-year-old's struggles at the dish have continued into the first half of June, as he's now 7-for-33 with three RBI and a stolen base through 11 contests.
Jun 12 2021Newman is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman owns a .428 OPS over his last 16 games, though that isn't a whole lot worse than the .515 OPS he posted over his first 41 contests. Erik Gonzalez starts at shortstop in his absence.
Jun 6 2021Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Erik Gonzalez will fill in at shortstop for Newman, who takes a seat after starting in each of the Pirates' last seven games. After closing May as the Pirates' No. 2 hitter, Newman had slotted seventh or eighth in the order in each of his last four starts. The return of everyday first baseman Colin Moran (groin) from the injured list Sunday likely means Newman will continue to hit out of a bottom-third spot on a regular basis.
May 29 2021Newman isn't starting Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rockies, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman had gone 2-for-7 with a double, a run and a strikeout across the last two games. Cole Tucker will start at shortstop and bat seventh.
May 27 2021Newman went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman snapped a three-game hitless run with a solid offensive output, especially considering the Pirates only racked up five hits throughout the game. That said, Newman is not a regular contributor on offense and it's hard to rely on him for sustained production on a game-to-game basis. The infielder is only hitting .226 with a .535 OPS. three extra-base hits and a 4:4 BB:K across 88 plate appearances this month.
May 25 2021Newman is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game agains the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This figures to be just a day off for Newman, as he's been a consistent presence in Pittsburgh's lineup during the Pirates' first 46 games. Cole Tucker will start at shortstop.
May 17 2021Newman went 0-for-3 with a walk and his first stolen base of the season in Sunday's 4-1 loss to San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His overall numbers (.204/.236/.255) remain abysmal, but he has shown glimmers of hope with a .236 batting average in 72 at-bats since April 24. Primarily due to injuries of his teammates, Newman has batted second in the lineup over the last five games. He ranks second among all shortstops with a 3.5 WAR on defense and his competition for playing time, Erik Gonzalez, is batting just .149 since April 25.
May 7 2021Newman is not in the lineup Friday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started the past three games and will take a seat after going 2-for-11 with one walk and one strikeout. Erik Gonzalez will take over at shortstop while Todd Frazier starts at third base Friday.
May 2 2021Newman is out of the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman started the past eight games and will receive a day off after going 7-for-28 with one homer, four RBI and three runs during that stretch. Erik Gonzalez will start at shortstop and bat sixth Sunday for Pittsburgh.
Apr 30 2021Newman went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates were unable to record any extra-base hits in Friday's contest, but Newman put the team on the board with a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth inning. Newman is now hitting .205 with a home run, six RBI and six runs this season.
Apr 24 2021Newman went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI on Saturday against Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman took Michael Pineda deep in the fifth inning, going back-to-back with Michael Perez. It was his first home run of the campaign and only his third extra-base hit overall. As that implies, Newman has yet to get his bat going, as he's hitting just .176/.208/.250 across 72 plate appearances.
Apr 18 2021Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Erik Gonzalez will fill in at shortstop after Newman started in each of the Pirates' previous seven games. After a red-hot spring training, Newman has been unable to keep the momentum going so far during the regular season. Through 14 games, Newman has gone 9-for-54 (.167 average) with only two extra-base hits (both doubles).
Apr 17 2021Newman went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 6-1 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His poor start (.180/.196/.220) continues, but despite his struggles, Newman has started each of the team's last six games. He's posted a 94 percent contact rate, but he's hitting line drives (6.4 percent) less than ever. Because the team likes to move versatile Erik Gonzalez around the infield, it's likely Newman sticks in the lineup at short. Cole Tucker remains in Florida working on his offensive approach, leaving a path for Newman to find his game with Pittsburgh.
Apr 12 2021Newman went 1-for-5 with a run in Sunday's 7-1 win against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since going 2-for-5 on Opening Day, Newman has collected only four hits in 27 at-bats. He's totaled one extra-base hit (a double) and no stolen base attempts. The team has batted him in various spots of the lineup without success. As a result, he could lose some playing time to Erik Gonzalez at shortstop until he regains his batting stroke.
Apr 10 2021Newman isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman was named the team's primary shortstop and has gone 5-for-27 with a double and one RBI in seven games to begin the year. However, Erik Gonzalez will take over at shortstop Saturday, batting fifth.
Apr 5 2021Newman is not starting Monday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman was named the team's primary shortstop following an excellent spring, but that doesn't mean he'll play every day. He'll get the day off after going 0-for-5 Sunday against the Cubs, with Erik Gonzalez starting in his absence.
Mar 29 2021Manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Newman will head into Opening Day as the Pirates' regular shortstop, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After taking a big step back at the plate during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Newman entered the spring having to battle with the likes of Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker for an everyday role in the middle infield. Newman was able to easily separate himself from the competition, recording a whopping 20 hits in 29 at-bats (.690 average) while going 2-for-3 on stolen-base attempts through his first 12 Grapefruit League games. While this level of production is obviously unsustainable, Newman's bat-to-ball skills and willingness to run should at least make him a decent late-round target for fantasy managers looking for a boost in batting average and steals. He's just two years removed from a season in which he hit .308 with 16 stolen bases over 130 games.
Mar 23 2021Newman went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs in Monday's loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's batting a healthy .700 in 20 spring at-bats. Perhaps more importantly, he's running the bases well and playing solid defense, showing that he's healthy entering the season. Barring an injury during the final week of Grapefruit League, Newman is likely to begin 2021 as the team's starting shortstop, ahead of Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker. Fantasy owners might recall that the 27-year-old stole 16 bases in 2019, so he could prove to be a sneaky source of steals in 2021.
Mar 18 2021Newman is 9-for-14 with a 4:0 BB:K in Grapefruit League action. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since returning from a hamstring injury two games ago, he has three hits in six at-bats. Newman struggled mightily in 2020 with a .224 batting average in 156 at-bats, but he posted a .308 mark in 493 at-bats in his rookie campaign. While he doesn't feature the glove that his competitors for the shortstop job have, like Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker, his bat plays much better. He played nearly as much second base (20 games) as shortstop (23) last summer, so he could slide over to the right side of the infield, especially if the team eventually trades starting second baseman Adam Frazier.
Mar 14 2021Newman (hamstring) served as the team's designated hitter and went 0-for-2 with a walk Sunday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While he didn't play in the field, Newman saw his first action in a week. He made it through the game without re-injuring himself and figures to see time at shortstop in the coming days.
Mar 10 2021Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Newman is no longer feeling tightness in his hamstring, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman left Sunday's spring game against Baltimore due to left hamstring tightness, but he's no longer dealing with the issue. The 27-year-old isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's spring matchup against the Yankees, but he should be available going forward.
Mar 7 2021Newman was removed from Sunday's spring game against the Orioles with left hamstring tightness, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old went 2-for-2 with a double, a run and two RBI before leaving the game. The severity of the injury remains unclear, but even if it's a minor issue Newman figures to take it easy for a couple days.
Mar 4 2021Newman went 2-for-2 with a walk Thursday against the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's in the middle of a three-way competition for time at shortstop with Cole Tucker and Erik Gonzalez. Newman, who bobbled away a ground ball for an error Thursday, needs to prove himself again both offensively and defensively after a miserable 2020. He slashed just .224/.281/.276 with one homer and no steals in 172 plate appearances after hitting .308 with 12 homers and 16 steals in 2019. Newman closed out last season on the injured list with a knee injury but is back to full health for 2021.
Feb 22 2021Newman (knee) was spotted fielding grounders at shortstop Monday during the Pirates' first workout for position players, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman's presence on the field to begin spring training suggests that he's made a full recovery from the left knee contusion that sidelined him late in the 2020 campaign. Before the injury surfaced, Newman was in the midst of a brutal season, with his .557 OPS over 172 plate appearances representing a 242-point drop from 2019. After being locked in as a full-time player heading into last season, Newman will likely now have to battle Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker for a starting job at shortstop this spring.
Sep 20 2020The Pirates placed Newman on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a contusion to the peroneal nerve of his left knee, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The injury isn't believed to be especially significant, but the timing of Newman's placement on the IL means his 2020 campaign is over. The 27-year-old took a big step back this season, with his OPS dropping 242 from his 2019 mark. Newman also failed to record a stolen base after going 16-for-24 on steal attempts last season. Adam Frazier and Erik Gonzalez will likely serve as Pittsburgh's everyday starters in the middle infield the rest of the way.
Sep 19 2020Newman went 0-for-4 with a pair of walks in Friday's doubleheader loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also made his seventh error of the season. Newman is batting .156 (5-for-32) since Sept. 9 with no extra-base hits. Prior to the season, he mentioned stealing bases as an area of expansion to his game, but he was unsuccessful in his lone attempt, and that was nearly two months ago. He dealt with an undisclosed injury during summer camp thought to be oblique related. For whatever reasons, his sophomore season has proven to be a disappointment: Newman is slashing .229/.281/.281 with one homer and 10 RBI in 168 plate appearances.
Sep 15 2020Newman is not starting Tuesday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has started 36 of the Pirates' 47 games so far this season, though he hasn't exactly earned the playing time. He's hitting just .227/.276/.284, quite a disappointment after he hit .308/.353/.446 in 130 games last season. JT Riddle will be the second baseman in his absence.
Sep 14 2020Newman will start at second base and will bat seventh in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After batting second in Sunday's 11-0 loss to the Royals, Newman will slide back down to a spot in the bottom third of the order. The low lineup placement may become the new normal for Newman, who has gone hitless in 14 at-bats over his last four starts to drop his season average to .222.
Sep 3 2020Newman is not in Thursday's lineup against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is hitting .200 with zero home runs and zero steals over his last 10 games. With Adam Frazier, Erik Gonzalez and Ke'Bryan Hayes all trending toward regular playing time, Newman will get more days off down the stretch.
Aug 27 2020Newman is not starting Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will head to the bench for the second half of Thursday's twin bill after going 1-for-4 in Game 1. Erik Gonzalez is covering shortstop in the nightcap, with Adam Frazier at the keystone and JT Riddle at third base.
Aug 26 2020Newman (abdominal) will remain out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Pirates skipper Derek Shelton said that both Newman and Colin Moran (concussion) would be available off the bench for Tuesday's series opener after the two exited Sunday's game against Milwaukee with injuries, neither entered the contest. Both players are still absent from the lineup a day later, but the Pirates' reluctance to put Newman and Moran on the injured list suggests both should continue to be viewed as day-to-day. Erik Gonzalez will fill in for Newman at shortstop Wednesday.
Aug 25 2020Newman (abdomen) is not in Tuesday's lineup against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It seemed like he could be placed on the injured list after leaving Sunday's game with lower abdominal muscle discomfort, but he's available off the bench for Tuesday's contest, per Adam Berry of MLB.com. Erik Gonzalez is starting at shortstop and leading off.
Aug 23 2020Newman was removed from Sunday's game against the Brewers in the top of the fourth inning with right lower abdominal muscle discomfort, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman and first baseman Colin Moran were both pulled in the first half of the contest, with the latter exiting early to be evaluated for a concussion. It's unclear when Newman may have picked up his injury, but he'll finish the day 0-for-2 with a strikeout. JT Riddle came off the bench to replace Newman, who should be viewed as day-to-day heading into the Pirates' upcoming two-game series with the White Sox that begins Tuesday.
Aug 22 2020Newman isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman's nine-game hitting streak came to an end in Friday's series opener against the Brewers, and he'll get a day off Saturday. Erik Gonzalez will shift to shortstop with JT Riddle starting at third base.
Aug 20 2020Newman went 2-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's 2-0 loss to Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start at second base and hitting second, Newman was a regular presence on the basepaths, but none of his teammates could bring him home. The 27-year-old has upped his batting average on the year to .292 with a nine-game hitting streak that's seen him go 15-for-36 (.417).
Aug 19 2020Newman went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Indians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's slashing .378/.391/.511 in 47 plate appearances in August. Newman, who stole 16 bases last season, was thrown out in his lone attempt thus far in 2020. Still, after starting the season in a 1-for-20 funk, it seems as though the infielder has found his stroke.
Aug 8 2020Newman went 4-for-5 with an RBI double in an 11-5 loss to the Tigers on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He lifted his batting average to a season-high .262. Newman has batted second in the lineup nine times in 11 starts after hitting leadoff almost exclusively in the second half of 2019. The 27-year-old collected a walk-off hit -- the fifth in his short career -- in Thursday's win and appears back on track following a slow start.
Aug 6 2020Newman is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will take a seat for the second time in three days, opening up a spot at shortstop for JT Riddle. The 27-year-old Newman went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 5-2 loss, spelling an end to a three-game hitting streak.
Aug 4 2020Newman will be on the bench Tuesday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman will sit for the third time in the season's first 11 games. He'd recorded just one hit in his first five contests this season but now has five hits over his last three. Erik Gonzalez will start at shortstop in his absence.
Aug 2 2020Newman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman took Jon Lester deep in the first inning for his first home run of the season. While he's still hitting just .179 through 31 plate appearances, Newman now has back-to-back mulit-hit games. He'll look to maintain his improved results as the Pirates travel to Minnesota to take on the Twins.
Jul 29 2020Newman is not starting Wednesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman sits for the second time in the season's first six games, meaning he seemingly has less than a true everyday role in Pittsburgh at the moment. He's done very little at the plate thus far this season, grabbing just a single hit in 16 at-bats. Erik Gonzalez will make his second start of the year as the shortstop in his absence.
Jul 26 2020Newman is not in Sunday's lineup against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is 1-for-8 with a strikeout through two games. Erik Gonzales will start in his stead and bat ninth.
Mar 31 2020The Pirates are expected to bat Newman leadoff primarily in 2020, though he could also slot third ahead of cleanup hitter Josh Bell occasionally. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After hitting seventh at the beginning of last year, Newman took full advantage of his opportunity to bat atop the order -- the 26-year-old slashed .328/.374/.502 in 75 games as a leadoff hitter. It remains to be seen how long he'll stick at shortstop, though. He ranked 22nd of 25 with a minus-1.7 dWAR (min. 800 innings). If Pittsburgh trades second baseman Adam Frazier, then Newman could shift to second, with standout defensive prospect Cole Tucker taking over at short. Regardless of where Newman plays in the field, his ability to hit for a high batting average and steal bases -- he swiped 16 bags in 24 tries in 2019 -- gives him fantasy value in two categories.
Feb 13 2020Newman, who finished eighth in 2019 in the NL batting race with a .308 average, is set to start the 2020 campaign as Pittsburgh's primary shortstop, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old saw action at both shortstop (104 games) and second base (23) as a rookie last year. He stole 16 bases (in 24 attempts) and spent the offseason working on "speed and defense." As a result, it wouldn't be surprising to see him surpass his projected stolen bases total for 2020. Newman may eventually settle in as the team's second baseman -- his minus-6 DRS at shortstop demonstrates his lack of range -- but he'll qualify at both middle infield spots in many leagues for 2020 and represents sneaky end-game value on a potential cellar-dwelling team.
Sep 27 2019Newman went 2-for-4 with a walkoff home run, five RBI and a walk during a 6-5 victory against the Reds on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old delivered his fourth walkoff moment (one was an actual walk) of the season with a two-run blast in the ninth. Newman came into the night with just one home run at home this year, but his two long balls propelled the Pirates to a fifth straight win. Newman is batting .310 with 12 home runs, 64 RBI, 61 runs and 16 steals in 484 at-bats this season.
Sep 22 2019Newman is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman is hitting .297 in September, but he went 0-for-8 over his last two games, so manager Clint Hurdle decided to give him a break. Cole Tucker will get the start at shortstop Sunday afternoon.
Sep 20 2019Newman went 2-for-6 with an RBI single in Thursday's loss to Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's slashing .379/.429/.563 in his last 112 plate appearances since Aug. 21, lifting his overall batting average to .317 -- good for sixth (along with teammate Bryan Reynolds) in the NL. Newman is showing few signs of slowing down after his disappointing late-season debut (.209/.247/.231) in 2018. He continues to thrive hitting exclusively out of the leadoff spot and has three hits in five career at-bats against Friday's starter Chase Anderson.
Sep 14 2019Newman went 3-for-5 with a triple and a double in a 14-1 defeat by the Cubs on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has hit safely in his last eight games, going 14-for-37 (.378), and in the bigger picture he's contributed 10 home runs and 15 stolen bases this season. The 26-year-old is slashing .318/.365/.455 over 440 at-bats and has 35 extra-base hits this season.
Sep 12 2019Newman is not in Thursday's lineup against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games and is slashing .413/.486/.651 with three home runs and four steals over that stretch. Cole Tucker starts at shortstop and will hit sixth.
Sep 7 2019Newman went 1-for-4 with a run and stolen base in a 10-1 loss against the Cardinals on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In a different era, Newman would probably be more appreciated. He only has 10 home runs and thus a .133 ISO, but he's batting .313 with 14 stolen bases. He's also chipped in 53 RBI and 51 runs, which is very respectable for 415 at-bats with a below average team.
Sep 5 2019Newman (hip) is starting at shortstop and leading off Thursday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was banged up earlier this week, but made a pinch-hit appearance Wednesday, so it's not surprising to see him back in the mix. Newman is hitting .450 with three home runs and two steals over his last 10 games, thanks largely to him notching nine hits in three games at Coors Field last week.
Sep 4 2019Newman (leg) will not be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman is still feeling soreness in his leg, so he will not start for the third game in a row. He did test his leg a bit during pregame warmups, so it's possible he could be an option off the bench. It remains to be seen who will start at shortstop in Newman's place Wednesday, but one of Erik Gonzalez or Cole Tucker figures to get the nod.
Sep 3 2019Newman (leg) isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Newman was held out of Sunday's matchup due to leg tightness, and even after benefitting from an off day Monday, he'll be held out of the starting lineup again Tuesday. It's unknown if he'll be available off the bench.
Sep 1 2019Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Colorado.
Aug 29 2019Newman went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs, a double and four RBI to help the Pirates to an 11-8 victory over the Rockies on Thursday.
Aug 25 2019Newman went 4-for-4 with a double, RBI, two steals and three runs in a 9-8 victory against the Reds on Sunday.
Aug 23 2019Newman went 2-for-4 and stole his 11th base of the season Thursday against the Nationals.
Aug 12 2019Newman went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored to help the Pirates to a 10-2 victory over the Angels on Monday.
Aug 6 2019Newman isn't starting Tuesday's game against Milwaukee.
Jul 31 2019Newman went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases in Tuesday's 11-4 win over Cincinnati.
Jul 26 2019Newman is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets, Nubyjas Wilborn of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 25 2019Newman will start at shortstop and bat seventh<\/a> Thursday against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Newman went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a 12-2 victory against the Brewers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Newman went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a 12-2 victory over the Brewers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 5 2019Newman returned to the leadoff spot Thursday, going 2-for-4 with a run scored against the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019Newman is not in the lineup<\/a> for Monday's game against the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 28 2019Newman went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI in a 3-2 victory against the Brewers on Friday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 27 2019Newman went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and two RBI in the Pirates' 10-0 victory over the Astros on Thursday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 27 2019Newman went 4-for-6 with a three-run homer and his fifth stolen base of the season Wednesday against Houston.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 23 2019Newman went 2-for-6 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's extra-innings win over the Padres.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2019Newman went 3-for-5 with a stolen base in a 5-4 victory against the Marlins on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 13 2019Newman went 3-for-5 with a double, walk, two RBI and a stolen base Wednesday in the Pirates' 8-7 loss to the Braves in 11 innings.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 12 2019Newman went 3-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base Tuesday in the Pirates' 7-5 loss to the Braves.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 9 2019Newman is not starting Sunday<\/a> against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 6 2019Newman will start at second base and bat leadoff<\/a> Thursday against the Braves.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 30 2019Newman is starting<\/a> at shortstop and hitting leadoff Thursday against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 30 2019Newman went 2-for-3 against the Reds on Wednesday, raising his season's batting average to .347 in 75 at-bats.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 28 2019Newman went 1-for-4 with a grand slam Tuesday against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 26 2019Newman will start at shortstop and hit eighth<\/a> Sunday against the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 19 2019Newman is out of the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Padres.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 13 2019Newman will make his first major-league start at third base<\/a> Monday against the Diamondbacks.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Newman went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored in Thursday's 17-4 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 28 2018Newman is batting .304/.352/.384 with 19 stolen bases in 276 at-bats for Triple-A Indianapolis.He's hit over the .300 mark in two of his last three seasons, although an OPS of .736 OPS is actually 13 points better than his career mark (.723). Prior to 2018, he never stole more than 13 bases but he's swiped five bags in his last seven games. He also leads the International League with 46 runs scored. Newman might not put up huge numbers when he hits the big leagues, but he'll likely get an opportunity to play if and when the team trades pending free-agent shortstop, Jordy Mercer.
Jun 4 2018Newman could be one of the first position players Pittsburgh recalls when it needs infield help, general manager Neal Huntington said Sunday.Speaking on his weekly radio show, Huntington said that Newman successfully handled a crash course at second base when it looked as though starter Josh Harrison might miss an extended period of time. Newman is slashing .313/.353/.391 with one homer and 13 stolen bases in 192 Triple-A at-bats. The 2015 first-round draft pick has the potential to help fantasy teams with his batting average, but holds just a career .725 OPS in four minor-league seasons.
Mar 15 2018Newman was sent down to minor-league camp Thursday, David Adler of MLB.com reports.Newman went 5-for-19 with two RBI and three stolen bases in 12 spring training games. He's expected to begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Mar 1 2018Newman has played spring games at second base in addition to seeing time at shortstop, the Rob Biertempfel of the Athletic reports. "It's adding versatility," manager Clint Hurdle said of putting Newman at second. "It's giving him options if something happens where he's not just a shortstop."Although he hasn't played a position other than shortstop since high school, he made a fine diving play at second base Wednesday. Newman slashed a middling .267/.311/.363 in 509 minor-league at-bats in 2017, but he's hit .283 overall in the minors. While the 2015 first-round draft pick likely won't hit for power (11 homers in three seasons), he could eventually help fantasy teams in the batting average category.
Jan 22 2018The Pirates announced Monday that Newman would join the major-league squad spring training as a non-roster invitee, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.In addition to Newman, fellow shortstop prospect Cole Tucker (hand) will also work out with the big club this spring, though neither is a serious candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Tucker probably offers more long-term fantasy upside of the two shortstops due to his base-stealing ability and projectable power, though Newman boasts a better hit tool. Newman slashed .283/.314/.373 across 178 plate appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis following a July promotion and is expected to open the 2018 season in the International League.
Jul 20 2017Newman was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.The first-round draft pick (2015) didn't overwhelm anyone with the bat at Double-A this season, as his slash line was just .259/.310/.359. Newman was heralded as a solid middle infield prospect after mashing at the lower levels of the minor leagues, but his prospect shine has faded a bit after showing little power and posting a rough batting average in a repeat of the Double-A level.
May 16 2017Newman (forehead) is back in action for Double-A Altoona. He is hitting .261/.328/.353 with one home run and zero steals on one attempt.The Pirates' potential shortstop of the future was hit in the head by a 94 mph fastball on May 10, but was back in the lineup on May 12 after showing no concussion symptoms. This has been a disappointing start to the season for the 23-year-old, as he was expected to have his way with Double-A pitching in a return trip to the Eastern League. He also has not yet shown any sign that more power is coming.
May 11 2017Double-A Altoona manager Michael Ryan said that Newman was diagnosed with a forehead contusion after the infielder exited Wednesday's game upon being struck with a fastball.Newman is experiencing no concussion symptoms and is being viewed as day-to-day, a welcome outcome considering the scary nature of the incident. The 23-year-old shortstop, who is one of the top position prospects in the organization, is hitting .267/.336/.371 with one homer and no steals across 116 plate appearances on the season.