RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~170s
CURRENT ADP: ~192 overall
ANALYSIS: Kevin Newman didn't begin the 2019 season on most fantasy owners' radar, but by the year's end, he had cemented himself as an excellent middle-infield option. The 26-year-old slashed an impressive .308/.353/.446 as a rookie, with 12 home runs, 16 stolen bases, and respectable run production in 130 games. He particularly excelled once the Pirates installed him as their leadoff hitter, hitting .328/.374/.502 in that role.
While Newman may have some competition for the leadoff spot in 2020 from Bryan Reynolds and Adam Frazier, he has been batting in the leadoff spot for much of sprint training, even with both players in the lineup. Even in the scenario in which Newman finds himself hitting lower in the lineup, he offers a plus batting average and 20+ SB potential with decent pop. At an ADP of 197, that's serious profit potential. Shortstop is loaded in 2020, so target Newman as more of an MI option with multi-position eligibility by virtue of his 20 starts at 2B last year. With a potential for 10-15 home runs and 20 stolen bases, Newman is certainly worth targeting around guys like Ryan McMahon and Jean Segura.
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