Pittsburgh Pirates Overcome -17 Run Differential to Win Series at Wrigley

Apr 24, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates players celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates players celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 14, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates player Kevin Newman (27) watches a replay against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates player Kevin Newman (27) watches a replay against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Newman’s days need to be numbered

Even though slugging shortstop prospect, the top prospect in the Pirate farm system got off to sluggish start at Triple-A Indianapolis, Kevin Newman‘s days at the primary shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates needs to be numbered.

Newman was 3-for-11 with a walk in the series. He also committed three errors in the series, including a pair of errors on what were pretty routine double play balls in Chicago’s 8-run 2nd inning on Saturday that allowed the Cubs to start to put their 21-0 blowout victory out of reach.

On the season Newman is hitting for a .222/.286/.356 slash line to go with an 88 wRC+. despite it being 12 points below league average, Newman’s wRC+ of 86 is a huge improvement over recent seasons. Which, just, yikes.

Despite his slow start to the season at Triple-A, top prospect Oneil Cruz appears to be finding his swing. This includes a walk off nuke for the Indians on Sunday afternoon. With the deadline for Cruz to remain in the minors and the Pirate accrue a 7th year of team control set to pass at the end of this week, a change needs to be on the horizon for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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