The Scoop on: Valencia’s Mike Newman

The basics:

– 5-foot- 11, 170 pounds
– Senior
– Left fielder
– Right-handed hitter

Stat line (through the first 20 games): .438 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, .757 slugging percentage, 28 hits, 10 doubles, 3 home runs, 16 RBIs, 13 runs, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts. (Click here to go to Newman’s bio page.) 

Tools: The guy can hit.

“He keeps his weight back; he’s compact,” Valencia coach Mike Scheetz said. “And he doesn’t get cheated. He takes a very aggressive hack.”

His approach would drive seamheadscrazy. “I want to hit,” Newman said. “I’m not looking to walk. I’m not looking to do anything else. I just want a line drive up the middle every time. … You can’t take too many fastballs in this league.”

But Scheetz makes sure to note, “He’s disciplined. He’s not going to chase pitches out of the strike zone.”

Colorful character: “He wears the most bizarre colored clothing,” Scheetz said. “Yellow jeans, aqua jeans, purple jeans, red. … I think that would be the most flamboyant thing about him.”

Teammates let it slide.

Coaches don’t.

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