Newman Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List

TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona baseball shortstop Kevin Newman has been named to the USA Baseball 60-man preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list released Friday. Newman is one of 10 players from the Pac-12 Conference recognized on the list.

The watch list features 60 of the nation’s top amateur players, and will be a “rolling” list until May 27 -- when the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists are announced -- ensuring that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the collegiate and high school seasons.

Now entering his sophomore season, Newman became the first freshman to lead the Cape Cod League in batting. The All-Pac-12 player hit .375 over 40 regular season games for the Falmouth Commodores. Newman was second on his club with 36 runs scored, and he added 18 runs batted in and stole16 bases – fourth-most in the league.

As a freshman at Arizona last spring, Newman was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. The starting shortstop in all 55 games for the Wildcats, Newman completed a sensational rookie campaign. He finished with a .336 batting average, which ranked fourth-highest on the team and No. 11 in the conference during the regular season.

A native of Poway, Calif., Newman ranked seventh in the league for base hits (73) and eighth for runs batted in (42) in 2013. He led Arizona with 23 multiple-hit games and topped the club with a .329 average in road games. Additionally, he was the only freshman position player named to the Pac-12 All-Conference team.

Newman is expected to start at shortstop this evening as the Wildcats open their 2014 slate against Kent State. First pitch this evening is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field.

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