{"id":74808,"date":"2024-05-29T08:00:25","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T12:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=74808"},"modified":"2024-05-29T01:23:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T05:23:19","slug":"underrated-shortstop-newman-diamondbacks-pleasant-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/05\/29\/underrated-shortstop-newman-diamondbacks-pleasant-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"Former No. 1 Draft Choice a Pleasant Surprise for Diamondbacks, Defying Analytics"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Kevin Newman<\/a> in January, they couldn\u2019t have foreseen how valuable the underrated shortstop would become. That January deal was a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Competing against other middle infielders in spring training, Newman didn\u2019t seem to have a path to the majors with the defending National League champions. Newman thought so, too. He opted out of that deal on March 27.<\/p>\n

However, a lot can happen in baseball in four days. Jordan Lawlar<\/a> injured his thumb<\/a>. Jace Peterson<\/a> was underperforming. Blaze Alexander<\/a>, the favorite to win the backup shortstop position, struggled defensively. Suddenly Newman and the Diamondbacks looked like a good match again. Newman inked another minor league deal with the Snakes.<\/p>\n

Kevin Newman a Pleasant Surprise for Diamondbacks<\/h2>\n

The Diamondbacks must feel like they\u2019ve struck gold with Newman. On April 7, Geraldo Perdomo<\/a>, a 24-year-old defensive wizard, suffered a torn meniscus in his knee. Arizona placed him on the injured list and recalled Newman from Triple-A Reno. Newman stepped in at shortstop on April 8 and has exceeded expectations. After Tuesday\u2019s action, he\u2019s hitting .256\/.293\/.393, with two home runs and 11 RBI in 39 games. Those numbers, which are fine for a backup shortstop, are due to a low 12.4 percent strikeout rate and an up-the-middle approach that sees 53.5 percent of his batted balls going to center field. He has six career walk-off hits, including one to beat his former team, the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5 on May 13.
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