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How Good was Kevin Newman?

Kevin Newman hit .375 and .380 in two summers on Cape Cod.
Kevin Newman hit .375 and .380 in two summers on Cape Cod.

 

Obviously, the answer to the headline’s question is “really good.” He made history after all, becoming the first player to ever win two Cape Cod Baseball League batting titles.

But I wondered – how much better was he?

To delve into that question, I decided to look at batting average for two-year Cape Leaguers. There are probably about 20 players every year that are on their second tour of the Cape, and many have gone on to great things (Buster Posey being Exhibit A). I figured there’d be a fair amount of guys who batted over. 300 for two years.

There were not.

Since 2000, Newman is one of just three players who have hit above .300 (with enough at-bats to qualify for the batting title) in two consecutive years.

The other two are Alex Blandino of Yarmouth-Dennis and Warner Jones of Wareham. Blandino hit .308 in 2013 and .312 in 2012. Jones – who played a remarkable 87 regular-season games – hit .303 for the Gatemen in 2004 and .344 in 2003.

Posey? Try .281 and .289.

Richard Martin Jr, the guy who was second to Newman this year? He was at .364 – and .193.

Colin Moran? Nope – .314 and .289.

Grant Green, the one I was expecting off the top of my head? A great .348 year but it was after he hit .291.

Matt Murton, a Cape League great? He did hit those numbers, but his .400 batting average in 2002 came in just 16 games.

The list goes on, but I think you get the point. Newman did something remarkable. And if you want to compare him to Blandino and Jones – the only guys in this class with him – then they probably shouldn’t be in the same class. Newman is the only player since 2000 to hit higher than .312 in two consecutive years. And he was way higher.

 

Notes

  • A leftover thought from the championship series: the buzz in the crowd when Phil Bickford came into the game was reminiscent of a Saean Manaea or Andrew Miller appearance. Everybody I was sitting near in the stands – even the most casual fans – knew who Bickford was. They’d turn to the person next to them and say, ‘Watch this guy.’

  • It also struck me that Bickford has the profile of a guy who is becoming an endangered species on Cape Cod: the highly-drafted power arm with little left to prove. From Gerrit Cole to Tyler Beede, the trend has been for those types of players to go with Team USA or take summers off. You can’t blame them. But it’s sure nice to see a blazing fastball from a former first-round pick on a Cape League mound.

  • Iowa catches up with Blake Hickman after his summer on the Cape, where the two-way player focused exclusively on pitching.

  • Arizona Desert Swarm gives some love to Kevin Newman.

  • The YES Network aired a terrific little piece on the Cape League. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s worth a watch.

  • Baseball America wraps up All-Star games across the minor leagues, with plenty of familiar names. Among the best performances, former Hyannis Harbor Hawk Adam Brett Walker was the MVP of the Florida State League All-Star Game. Walker has 24 home runs this season.

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    Minor League All-Stars

    Every year, hundreds of Cape Cod Baseball League alumni criss-cross the country, one minor league ballpark at a time. These 16 did it best in 2013 and are Right Field Fog’s CCBL Minor League All-Stars. Selections are based largely on performance in the 2013 season, not prospect rankings. This is the first in a series of alumni reports that will include a roundup of each Cape League team’s top performers.

    calebjoseph

    C – CALEB JOSEPH

    Baltimore – Double A

    The former Cotuit Kettleer was an eighth-round pick of the Orioles in the 2008 draft. He’s moved methodically through the Baltimore system since then, but 2013 might represent his breakout season. In 135 games for Double A Bowie, Joseph batted .299 with 22 home runs and 97 RBI. He earned Eastern League Post-Season All-Star honors. While the season was Joseph’s fourth at Double A, he may have earned himself a promotion this time around.

    IN THE RUNNING: Kevin Plawecki, Rob Kral, Andrew Knapp

     
    benpaulsen

    1B – BEN PAULSEN

    Colorado – Triple A

    A former Hyannis Met and a third-round pick out of Clemson, Paulsen is another minor league vet, but after a big year in the Pacific Coast League, he finds himself knocking on the door of the big leagues. Paulsen hit .292 for Colorado Springs and belted 18 home runs and 32 doubles. He drove in 79 and racked up an .867 OPS. With longtime Rockies first baseman Todd Helton retiring, Paulsen has put himself into the heir apparent conversation.

    IN THE RUNNING: Jayce Boyd, Trey Mancini, Daniel Palka, William Carmona, Max Muncy, Hunter Morris

     
    micahjohnson

    2B – MICAH JOHNSON

    Chicago White Sox – Class A, Double A

    The former Cotuit Kettleer and Indiana Hoosier is quite literally speeding his way through the Chicago White Sox system. A ninth-round pick in the 2012 draft, Johnson’s trademark speed carried him all the way to Double A in his first season as a pro. He made three stops in 2013, and his speed played at every one of them. For the year, Johnson stole a minors-best 84 bases. He also hit .312 with seven homers and reached base at a .373 clip. Johnson has his best success in the South Atlantic League, where he hit .342 and stole 61 bags.

    IN THE RUNNING: Grant Green, Kolten Wong, Alex Yarbrough, Tommy LaStella, Robert Refsnyder

     
    krisbryant

    3B – KRIS BRYANT

    Chicago Cubs – Short Season, Class A Advanced

    The newest pro on this list wasted no time cementing his status as one of baseball’s best prospects. In the spring, the former Chatham Angler blasted 31 home runs for the University of San Diego. In June, the Cubs made him the second overall pick in the draft. In July, Bryant signed – and he spent the rest of the summer proving his worth. In 18 games in the Northwest League, Bryant hit .354 with four homers. He then skipped Low Class A and went right to the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, where he hit .333 with five more homers and helped Daytona win the league championship. He’s currently lighting up the prospect-heavy Arizona Fall League.

    IN THE RUNNING: Cal Towey, Ryan Wheeler, Chris Dominguez, Mike Garza

     
    darnellsweeney

    SS – DARNELL SWEENEY

    Los Angeles Dodgers – Class A Advanced

    The former Harwich Mariner was a 13th-round pick of the Dodgers in 2012 and had a strong debut last summer. In his first full season of pro ball, Sweeney was even better. He hit .275 with 11 homers, 34 doubles and 16 triples, to go with 77 RBI. He reached base at a .348 clip and stole 48 bases. He also hit for the cycle in a game in May.

    IN THE RUNNING: J.J. Altobelli, Eric Stamets, Deven Marrero

     
    georgespringer

    OF – GEORGE SPRINGER

    Houston Astros – Double A, Triple A

    Perhaps no player in minor league baseball had a more productive 2013 season than former Wareham star George Springer. The speedy outfielder hit 37 home runs and stole 45 bases, leaving him on the doorstep of becoming the first 40-40 player in the modern history of minor league baseball. Springer also hit .303 with a sparkling .411 on-base percentage. He drove in 108, and the 37 homers ranked third in all of minor league baseball.

     
    adambrettwalker

    OF – ADAM BRETT WALKER

    Minnesota Twins – Class A

    Walker had some struggles on the Cape in 2011, highlighting the boom-or-bust concerns that had already been attached. After his first full season as a pro, Walker is moving toward the boom side of the equation. The former Hyannis Harbor Hawk hit .278 and blasted 27 homers for Cedar Rapids of the Midwest League. He also tallied 31 doubles and 109 RBI. He earned Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star honors.

     
    andrewtoles

    OF – ANDREW TOLES

    Tampa Bay Rays – Class A

    Toles starred for Brewster in 2011, though his collegiate career at Tennessee was abbreviated after he was dismissed from the team. After a season in the juco ranks, Toles was drafted in the third round of the 2012 draft and has made his presence felt. In this his first full season as a pro, Toles hit .326 with 53 extra-base hits and stole 62 bases.

    IN THE RUNNING: Jeff Kobernus, John Andreoli, Tom Belza, Adam Engel, Brian Humphries, Stephen Piscotty, Preston Tucker, Josh Elander, Jeremy Baltz, Jordan Patterson, Alex Dickerson, Victor Roache, Kent Matthes, Derek Jones, Brett Eibner, Dan Paolini

     
    tommy medica

    DH – TOMMY MEDICA

    San Diego Padres – Double A

    Medica won a Cape League championship with Harwich in 2008. He was a 14th-round pick out of Santa Clara in 2010 but may prove to be a steal if this season is any indication. Playing in the Texas League, Medica batted .296 with 20 homers, 22 doubles and 65 RBI. He was a September call-up to the Padres.

     
    kylehendricks

    SP – KYLE HENDRICKS

    Chicago Cubs – Double A, Triple A

    Hendricks doesn’t get as much love on top prospects lists as a lot of other pitchers, but the former Brewster reliever has put up impressive numbers at every stop on his pro career, culminating with a tremendous season in 2013. Hendricks spent most of the year at Double A Tennessee, where he went 10-3 with a sparkling 1.85 ERA. He made the jump to Triple A for six starts at the end of the year and continued to pitch well, posting a 2.48 ERA. He was named the Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

     
    anthonyranaudo

    SP – ANTHONY RANAUDO

    Boston Red Sox – Double A, Triple A

    Ranaudo used the 2010 Cape League season as an opportunity to prove he was healthy to the nearby Red Sox, who had drafted him in June. After excelling with Brewster, Ranaudo inked a deal with the Red Sox and has been one of their top pitching prospects ever since. He didn’t disappoint in 2013, posting solid lines at Double A Portland and Triple A Pawtucket. Combined, Ranaudo went 11-5 with a 2.96 ERA. He struck out 127 in 140 innings.

     
    kylezimmer

    SP – KYLE ZIMMER

    Kansas City – Class A, Double A

    Zimmer was a first-round pick in 2012, and the former Cotuit star shined in his pro debut. As he began his first full season on the farm, he had some struggled, but by the end of the year, was exactly where the Royals wanted him. Between two levels, he had a 4.32 ERA with 140 strikeouts in just 108 innings pitched. He topped out at Double A, and actually had more success there. In four starts, he had a 1.93 ERA and a 27-to-5 strikeout to walk ratio.

     
    eddiebutler

    SP – EDDIE BUTLER

    Colorado Rockies – Class A, Double A

    Butler was part of a dynamic bullpen for the 2011 Cape League champion Harwich Mariners. After a big spring with Radford, he was drafted in the first round in 2012 and promptly led the Pioneer League in ERA. In 2013, he cruised through three levels, establishing himself as one of the Rockies top prospects at every stop. Butler finished the year with a 9-5 record and a 1.80 ERA, one of the best numbers in all of minor league baseball. He struck out 143 in 149.2 innings.

     
    natekarns

    SP – NATE KARNS

    Washington Nationals – Double A

    A 2008 Falmouth Commodore, Karns fell behind the curve when he had shoulder surgery before he threw a professional pitch. Karns finally returned to action in 2011 and has made the most of his second chance. He was the National’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2012. This year, he went 10-6 with a 3.26 ERA in Double A, and his 155 strikeouts ranked 15th in all of minor league baseball. Karns had a cup of coffee with the Nationals early in the season as an injury fill-in.

    IN THE RUNNING: Dylan Floro, Andrew Heaney, Matt Barnes, Pierce Johnson, Mario Hollands, Taylor Rogers, Tim Cooney, Deck McGuire, Jon Moscot, Andy Oliver, Eric Jokisch, Marcus Stroman, Logan Verrett, Nick Tropeano

     
    nickwittgren

    RP – NICK WITTGREN

    Miami Marlins – Class A, Double A

    Wittgren saved nine games for Hyannis in 2011 and the Purdue grad continues to pick up saves at a break-neck clip in pro ball. A ninth-round pick in 2012, Wittgren saved 13 games after signing with the Marlins that year. This season, he emerged as one of the best relievers in the minors, tallying 26 saves and giving up just five earned runs the entire year for a 0.83 ERA. He struck out 63 and walked just 10.

     
    VictorBlack

    RP – VIC BLACK

    New York Mets – Triple A

    The former Bourne Brave had a tough start to his professional career, but after a move to the bullpen, he took off in 2012. The rise continued this year, as Black saved 17 games in Triple A while striking out 63 in 46.2 innings. His success earned him a promotion to New York.
     

    IN THE RUNNING: Michael Morin, Jake Barrett, Lee Hyde, Michael Nesseth, Ben Rowen, Joshua Turley