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2023 SnakePit Awards: Unsung Hero of the Year – Kevin Newman

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San Francisco Giants v Arizona Diamondbacks
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

Another year, another Kevin!

This one proved quite a close-fought contest, with Kevin Newman holding off a late run from Kyle Nelson, to prevail by a margin of 35-31%. The remaining third of votes were spread across the other four candidates, all of whom received some affection. But it’s Mr. Newman who prevailed, following in the footsteps of last year’s winner – another Kevin in that case, Mr. Ginkel. Maybe Mike Hazen needs to sign free-agent Kevin Pillar, and watch him over-perform his way to this award in 2025?

What’s most impressive is the way Newman was not ever on the 40-man roster when spring training began. There’s a case to be made that he might be the best non-roster invitee the Diamondbacks have ever had. He was a relatively late signing, coming on board in January 2024 (the same day as Tucker Barnhart), and was seen at the time as a weak-side platoon partner for Gerardo Perdomo. The right-handed hitting Newman had always hit left-handers well. However, he faced a spring training competition for a roster spot, going up against Arizona prospects Jordan Lawlar and Blaze Alexander.

Newman didn’t exactly have a brilliant spring, batting .194 with an OPS of only .599. On March 27th, he exercised the opt-out in his contract, becoming a free-agent. But three days later, he re-signed with Arizona, accepting a minor-league deal, and started the season off in Reno with the Aces. It didn’t take long for that to become a spot on the major-league roster, because Gerardo Perdomo tore the meniscus in his right knee, and on April 7, Newman was called up to replace Perdomo. It was expected perhaps to be a short term call-up, at worst until Perdomo’s return. But Newman would not taste casino food again for the rest of the season…

Initially, his poor spring form carried forward. In the rest of April, Kevin hit only .157, with an OPS of .502. But with Alexander already on the roster, and Lawlar out with a torn thumb ligament, the shortstop options for Arizona were perilously thin, and the team more or less had to stick with Newman. But after the calendar turned, Newman began to find his footing. In particular, over a four-game spell against Baltimore and Cincinnati, he went 10-for-14 with six extra-base hits. His impact as most notable in the May 13th game against the Reds (above). Newman went 4-for-5 with two doubles, including a two-run, walkoff single off Reds closer Alexis Diaz, to win it in the ninth.

By the end of the following night, Newman’s line was a healthy .272/.306/.457 for an OPS of .763, and it would never sink below .650 the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Alexander’s star faded as he could not maintain his hot start. Perdomo returned to the D-backs on June 11 – the same day Lawlar made his first appearance of the year for the Aces – but by that point, Newman had become an integral part of the team, and operated largely as originally speculated, as a platoon partner for Perdomo. He hit left-handers well, as expected, hitting .282 with a .722 OPS there, but held his own against righties, with a batting average only eight points lower, and actually a higher OBP.

Despite manager Torey Lovullo saying, “Kevin Newman has been unbelievable for this ball club,” it definitely felt like Newman went under the radar. Fellow UA graduate (and reigning Unsung Hero!) Kevin Ginkel said, “I feel like he brings some stability. From a defensive standpoint he’s solid in the field. I know when balls are hit to him he’s going to make plays. I feel like offensively, too, he’s not afraid of trying to go the other way with a line drive or move a guy over.” I think it’s likely true to say that words like “stability” and “solid” are the hallmarks of an unsung hero. Even in his rare interviews, it’s notable that Newman spoke more about the team than himself.

By the end of the season had put up 2.2 bWAR/1.4 fWAR. The former figure was more than Lourdes Gurriel or Jake McCarthy, both of whom got considerably more playing time than Newman. Given Kevin earned less than one million dollars from the Diamondbacks, it proved to be a fabulous signing, who filled whatever hole was needed. Though most of his appearances were in the middle-infield, he played ten times at first-base, six times at third, and even filled in for a bit in left field, during a game against the Brewers on September 15th, that went into extras. He was the incarnation of a utility player: never flashy, but always ready to do what was needed.

He won’t be back in 2025, having signed a one-year contract on the Angels, with a club option for 2026. It will pay him considerably more than he got in Arizona, Newman earning $2.5 million in Los Angeles. I don’t begrudge him that one bit: Kevin did himself and UA proud in his time here, and the SnakePit wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

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