KEVIN NEWMAN NEWS

Drives in run Friday Newman went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Cardinals.

Impact 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.

MAY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Difo leads Pirates over Royals 2-1, back over .500 at 12-11

Pinch-hitter Wilmer Difo delivered the go-ahead single in the seventh inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Kansas City 2-1 to end the Royals’ five-game winning streak

APRIL 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Polanco homers among 3 hits, Pittsburgh beats Minnesota 6-2

Gregory Polanco homered among his three hits, the Pittsburgh bullpen tossed five strong innings, and the Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 Sunday

APRIL 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Delivers first homer Newman went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI on Saturday against Minnesota.

Impact 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. Newman has yet to get his bat going, hitting just .176/.208/.250 across 72 plate appearances.

APRIL 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Perez, Newman break out, go back-to-back  In the Nos. 8 and 9 holes in the Pirates’ lineup for Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Twins were two batters in need of a turnaround at the plate...

APRIL 24, 2021 • MLB.COM

Perez, Cahill lead Pirates over Twins 6-2

Michael Perez had three hits and drove in three runs, helping Trevor Cahill and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2

APRIL 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting Sunday Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact 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).

APRIL 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Searching for turnaround Newman went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 6-1 win over the Brewers.

Impact 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.

APRIL 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brubaker pitches Pirates past Brewers 6-1 in series opener

JT Brubaker struck out eight in six impressive innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended their recent surge by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 6-1

APRIL 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slow start at plate Newman went 1-for-5 with a run in Sunday's 7-1 win against the Cubs.

Impact 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.

APRIL 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brubaker pitches, hits Pirates to 7-1 win over slumping Cubs

JT Brubaker pitched into the sixth inning and had the first three RBIs of his career to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Chicago Cubs 7-1

APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting Saturday Newman isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Impact 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.

APRIL 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Monday's lineup Newman is not starting Monday against the Reds.

Impact 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.

APRIL 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

LEADING OFF: Ohtani back on the mound, Sanchez slugging

Shohei Ohtani’s quest to regain his reputation as a stellar two-way player gets a big test when he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Angels against the White Sox

APRIL 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arrieta makes triumphant return as Cubs beat Pirates 5-1

Jake Arrieta pitched six solid innings in a triumphant return to the Cubs, Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward homered, and Chicago beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Saturday afternoon

APRIL 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Ohtani back on the mound, Sanchez slugging

Shohei Ohtani’s quest to regain his reputation as a stellar two-way player gets a big test when he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Angels against the White Sox

APRIL 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates' Hayes leaves game against Cubs with wrist pain

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes left a game against the Chicago Cubs with discomfort in his left wrist

APRIL 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Betts hits 2 HRs in final spring training game of the year

Mookie Betts put an exclamation point on the exhibition season

MARCH 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kevin Newman breaks spring training record, sets himself up for regular season success Celebrating spring training accomplishments is a slippery slope, but there has to be room for exceptions. Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman wen...

MARCH 30, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Kuhl's the rule; Pirates name Chad Kuhl opening day starter

Chad Kuhl will be the opening day starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates

MARCH 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Named top shortstop Manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Newman will head into Opening Day as the Pirates' regular shortstop, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact 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.

MARCH 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Adding some historical context to Kevin Newman's strong spring With three games to go, Kevin Newman is in excellent position to having the best batting average in spring training since at least 2006.

MARCH 28, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

This Buc is on pace to shatter a ST record Kevin Newman has been refusing to make outs this spring, and it’s reaching historic levels. After going 3-for-4 with a double in Saturday’s...

MARCH 27, 2021 • MLB.COM

Bruce, Sandoval on big league rosters, Maybin, Frazier cut

Jay Bruce returned to the major leagues, making the New York Yankees’ roster at the deadline for decisions on free agents who had gone to spring training with minor league contract...

MARCH 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Red Sox lefty Rodriguez scratched for opener with 'dead arm'

Boston Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez will have to wait a little longer before returning to a big league mound

MARCH 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS