KEVIN NEWMAN NEWS

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

Pirates prospect Gonzales focusing on present, not future

Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Nick Gonzales is trying to absorb what he can during his first spring training

MARCH 26, 2021 • Associated Press

Padres star Tatis feels better, expected back in lineup soon

Fernando Tatis Jr. is feeling a lot better, a huge relief to the star San Diego shortstop, his team and his many fans

MARCH 24, 2021 • Associated Press

Grabbing hold of shortstop job Newman went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs in Monday's loss to the Orioles.

Impact 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.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks' Gallen has sore forearm, might miss opener

The Arizona Diamondbacks might be missing their best pitcher on opening day

MARCH 23, 2021 • Associated Press

Yanks star Stanton off to strong start after smashing finish

Giancarlo Stanton is picking up where he ended the postseason last year

MARCH 21, 2021 • Associated Press

Sizzling start to spring Newman is 9-for-14 with a 4:0 BB:K in Grapefruit League action.

Impact 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 have glove skills of his competitors for the Pirates' shortstop job, 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 also slide over to the right side of the infield, especially if the team eventually trades starting second baseman Adam Frazier.

MARCH 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE