Kevin Newman Bio
Kevin Bradley Newman (born August 4, 1993) is an American professional baseball infielder in the Kansas City Royals organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Angels. A former first-round draft pick out of the University of Arizona, Newman has built a career as a contact-oriented middle infielder across multiple organizations.
Known for his contact skills and strike-zone discipline, Newman has posted some of the lowest strikeout rates in baseball during his seasons as a regular. He is currently signed to a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, continuing his journey through professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Bradley Newman was born on August 4, 1993, and grew up in Poway, California, where he attended Poway High School. He made the school’s varsity baseball team during his sophomore year and quickly established himself as a talented young hitter. As a junior, Newman batted .404, drawing attention from several major college baseball programs.
He drew recruiting interest from the University of Arizona, the University of Oregon, and the University of California, Los Angeles. Newman ultimately committed to attend Arizona on a college baseball scholarship, choosing the Wildcats for their strong baseball tradition and competitive Pac-12 Conference schedule. His development in Poway laid the foundation for a successful amateur career.
Path to Baseball
At the University of Arizona, Newman succeeded Alex Mejia as the Wildcats’ starting shortstop during his freshman year. He posted a .336 batting average that season, the 11th-best mark in the Pac-12 Conference, and was named a Freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger. He was the only freshman selected to the All-Pac-12 Conference team that year.
Newman continued to perform as a sophomore, batting .304 and earning another All-Pac-12 selection. He also spent two summers playing collegiate baseball for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2013 and 2014, winning the league batting title both years and earning MVP honors in 2014. He was later inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2020, capping one of the most decorated amateur careers in the program.
Kevin Newman Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Newman in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft with the 19th overall pick. He signed with the club and made his professional debut that summer with the West Virginia Black Bears of the New York-Penn League. The Pirates promoted him to the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League in August, where he finished his first professional season.
In 61 combined games across his two minor league stops in 2015, Newman batted .257 with two home runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. He began 2016 with the Bradenton Marauders and later moved up to the Altoona Curve, batting a combined .320 with five home runs and 52 RBIs in 102 games. Newman split 2017 between Altoona and the Indianapolis Indians, posting a .267 average and earning a spot on MLB.com’s list of Pittsburgh’s top prospects heading into 2018.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2018–2022)
Newman played 102 games for Indianapolis in 2018, batting .302 before the Pirates promoted him to the major leagues on August 16 of that year. His first full MLB season came in 2019, when he batted .308/.353/.446 and tied for the National League lead in infield hits with 22. He also led the NL in at-bats per strikeout that year at 8.0, on April 6, 2019, hitting a walk-off single to beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 in 10 innings.
The 2020 shortened season saw his production dip to a .224/.281/.276 line, and 2021 brought further struggles as he batted .226/.265/.309 with the lowest OPS in the major leagues at .574. However, he also set a major league record that year by leading all players in at-bats per strikeout at 12.6. During spring training in 2021, Newman set the modern spring training batting average record (minimum 30 plate appearances) at .606, surpassing the previous mark held by Todd Linden. He began 2022 on the injured list with a groin issue and spent time on the 60-day injured list before the Pirates traded him following the season.
Cincinnati Reds (2023)
On November 18, 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Newman to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitcher Dauri Moreta. He played in 74 games for Cincinnati during the 2023 season, batting .253/.311/.364 with three home runs, 28 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. Newman showed flashes of his usual contact skills while serving as a versatile infielder for the Reds.
His season was interrupted on August 19, 2023, when he was placed on the injured list with a left oblique strain. After returning briefly in September, the Reds designated him for assignment and ultimately released him from the organization on September 27, 2023, ending his short tenure in Cincinnati.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2024)
On January 3, 2024, Newman signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He initially opted out of that deal on March 27 before re-signing with the organization on a new minor league contract the next day. His opportunity came on April 7, when he was added to the major league roster after an injury to Geraldo Perdomo.
Newman appeared in 111 games for Arizona during the 2024 season, batting .278/.311/.375 with three home runs, 28 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. His steady defense and contact bat provided valuable depth for the Diamondbacks throughout the year.
Los Angeles Angels (2025)
On November 14, 2024, Newman signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He appeared in 56 games for the Angels during the early part of the 2025 season, batting .202/.209/.272 with two home runs, 11 RBIs, and one stolen base. His production lagged behind his career norms in limited action.
Following the Angels’ acquisition of Oswald Peraza on July 31, 2025, Newman was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and was released by Los Angeles on August 2, 2025, ending his time with the organization.
Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals (2025)
On August 23, 2025, Newman signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization. He made 15 appearances for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, batting .296/.377/.370 with six RBIs. Following the season, Newman elected free agency on November 6, 2025. Shortly after, on December 12, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, where he continues his professional career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Throughout his career, Kevin Newman has been recognized as a contact-first middle infielder with elite strike-zone discipline. He has consistently ranked among the league leaders in at-bats per strikeout, including leading the majors in that category in 2021 at 12.6. His ability to put the ball in play, combined with reliable defense at shortstop and second base, has allowed him to remain a valuable utility player across multiple organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Newman’s signature moments came on April 6, 2019, when he delivered a walk-off single against the Cincinnati Reds to give Pittsburgh a 6-5 victory in 10 innings. His 2021 spring training batting average record of .606 stands as a benchmark for contact hitting in modern exhibition play. Newman was also inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2020, honoring his standout summers with the Falmouth Commodores.
Kevin Newman Career Wins
Across his professional career, Kevin Newman has built a reputation as a consistent contact hitter rather than a power producer, focusing on batting average and on-base skills. His minor league journey included stints with the West Virginia Black Bears, West Virginia Power, Bradenton Marauders, Altoona Curve, Indianapolis Indians, Toledo Mud Hens, and various Royals affiliates.
MLB Career Highlights
Newman’s most productive MLB season came in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he batted .308/.353/.446 and tied for the National League lead with 22 infield hits. He also set a major league record that year for at-bats per strikeout pace. In 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Newman batted .278/.311/.375 across 111 games, providing steady middle-infield play.
Kevin Newman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kevin Bradley Newman’s immediate family background remains limited beyond what has been reported in connection with his personal life.
Personal Life
Kevin Newman is married to his wife, Shayne, and the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in January 2021. The family resides in Chandler, Arizona, where Newman has been based during his recent stops in the National League West and beyond.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Kevin Bradley Newman, beginning with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year, $2.5 million contract. He appeared in 56 games for the Angels, batting .202/.209/.272 with two home runs, 11 RBIs, and one stolen base, before being designated for assignment following the team’s acquisition of Oswald Peraza on July 31. He cleared waivers and was released on August 2.
Newman quickly found a new opportunity, signing a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers on August 23, 2025. He played 15 games for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, batting .296/.377/.370 with six RBIs, showing the contact skills that have defined his career. After electing free agency on November 6, he signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on December 12, 2025.
Heading into 2026, Newman’s outlook centers on earning another opportunity at the major league level with the Royals organization. His track record of contact hitting and infield versatility positions him as a candidate for a depth role in Kansas City, particularly given his proven ability to contribute across multiple teams throughout his career.