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Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Prospects for 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 17, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; A view of the Pittsburgh Pirates logo during the game between the Pirates and the New York Yankees at McKechnie Field. The Yankees defeat the Pirates 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; A view of the Pittsburgh Pirates logo during the game between the Pirates and the New York Yankees at McKechnie Field. The Yankees defeat the Pirates 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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4. Kevin Newman, SS

Birthdate: 8/4/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A, AA
Stats in 2016: .320/.389/.426, 5 HR, 10 SB

Newman is a guy who just hits, and then he hits, then he sleeps a bit, wakes up, and he hits some more.

Newman was a guy who ESPN prospect analyst Keith Law has been a big fan of since 2015, stating that he believed Newman was on par with guys like Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman. While we saw Bregman and Swanson in the majors in 2016, that doesn’t lessen the contributions that Newman has made already.

While we saw Bregman and Swanson in the majors in 2016, that doesn’t lessen the contributions that Newman has made already.

Newman moved quickly past high-A this year, going to AA, and while his batting average took a “hit” at only .288, he continued to show the elite contact ability and pitch recognition, finishing his AA time with a 28/24 BB/K rate in 233 AA at bats.

Newman defensively has handled shortstop due to very good instincts and baseball smarts, his natural range and arm make him a better fit at second base going forward. He’s also not a guy who likely will hit 20 home runs or steal 30 bases, but he does use gap power well and run the bases extremely well, so those are not lost skills either.

Newman could make a push to take over second base as soon as mid-season 2017, but he should start the year in AAA.

Next: #3

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