Marc Newfield. A prospect I loved.
6'4", 205 lbs. out of Huntington Beach, CA
Drafted sixth overall in the 1990 draft.
LA Times
“He’s a power hitter with a very exciting bat,” said Roger Jongewaard, Mariners’ vice president of scouting and player development. “He’s the type of guy who could be a (cleanup) hitter someday. We look for him to play left field or right field.”
Compton (Mariners scout) said Newfield’s future as a first baseman is bleak because the Mariners are already loaded at the position with Alvin Davis, Pete O’Brien and Tino Martinez.
Scouts have compared Newfield's swing and batting stance to those of Cincinnati Reds slugger Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry of the New York Mets.
Compton has drawn his own comparisons.
"He holds the bat similar to Davis, " Compton said. "Others compare him physically to (Angel Dave) Winfield.
"But I think Marc will be someone that people compare other players to someday. Hopefully he's a guy who, in the year 2010, is still playing and hitting 30 homers and 100 RBIs."
- LA Times
1990 MLB Draft
Minor Leagues
1990 AZL: .324/.401/.514, 185 AB (17 years old)
1991 A+/AA: .296/.384/.433, 466 AB (18)
Named #2 prospect in Cal League by BA behind Pedro.
1992 AA: .247/.309/.395, 162 AB (19) toe injury that required season ending surgery
1993 AA: .307/.374/.530, 336 AB (20) 10 games in, pulled left hamstring.
1994 AAA: .349/.413/.593, 430 AB (Calgary - crazy hitter friendly environment)
Major Leagues
1993 SEA: .227/.257/.318, 66 AB
1994 SEA: .184/.225/.289, 38 AB
1995 SEA/SD: .236/.267/.393, 140 AB
1996 SD/MIL: .278/.332/.446, 370 AB (Best Season at age 23)
Out of baseball by 2000. 27 years old.
1995 Mariners OF was Griffey, Buhner, Amaral, Bragg, Coleman, A. Diaz, Warren Newson, Gary Thurman. Edgar was DH.
- Griffey played CF (obvi)
- Buhner played RF
- Coleman became a table setter at the top of the order after acquired in Aug.
- Amaral was a fast UT guy who hit right handed. Bragg was a decent bat.
- However, none of these guys should have held a talented Newfield back.
Traded in July 31st with LHP Ron Villone to Padres for SP Andy Benes.
Traded in 1996 with Bryce Florie and Villone for Greg Vaughn.
Released in Dec 1998 by Brewers.
Padres platooned him in 96 as did Brewers in 98. Hurt in 97 which limited at bats.
What happened?
22 SBs in 515 minor league games. No speed. Corner bat. Not 1B because blocked by Alvin Davis and Tino Martinez? Really? Davis wasn't on the roster by 1995. Tino was a legitimate all-star. Left field should have been Newfield's domain. Manager Lou Piniella was not inclined to play young players. So Newfield was relegated to platoon duty or regular at bats in the minors. He was a victim of injury and circumstance.
.305/.378/.489 career minor league numbers.
.867 OPS (!!)
.249/.303/.375 in 1051 Plate appearances in MLB.
6.6% BB, 15.4% K rate
The fact that he became a platoon bat with San Diego in 1996 says that he may have had problems with the breaking ball from RHP. Questions about work ethic and injuries definitely hurt his development as did playing for a MLB manager who favored veterans. However, his OBP and AVG say he had tremendous bat to ball talent. Lots of talk about his lack of defensive chops wouldn't matter as much in today's game. He was passable in a corner OF spot
He was blocked by Buhner, Edgar, and Tino. Could have been Mariners LF. I am of the opinion that if he was allowed to settle in LF without pressure he would have developed in to a .300/.360/.450 type hitter. Would always have a slight platoon split but a balanced Mariners lineup would have mitigated that. Way too talented of a bat to be out of baseball by 27.
Pitch recognition, launch angle information, and other swing metrics could have turned Newfield into a star. He was not as physical as other players of his size, but he had the makings of a very good professional hitter. Comps of Eric the Red, Strawberry, and Dave Winfield scream lazy race comparisons, given they are all bigger African American outfielders. He did not have the quick twitch of Eric Davis, who posted a season of 27 HRs and 80 SBs in 1986 AND 37 HRs and 50 SBs in 1987! He didn't have the prodigous power of Darryl Strawberry, and he didn't have the arm and the physicality of Dave Winfield who was drafted by the NFL, NBA, ABA, and MLB! He had a JD Martinez starter kit. Professional hitter. Late to maturity.
Current comp: JD Martinez
JD didn't become a decent MLB player until age 26.
5807 plate appearances.
.288/.352/.519, 277 HR, 25 SB, 8.8% BB, 24.1% K
Full time DH. Played below average corner OF prior.
It is fascinating think about "what if" for a player like Newfield. He was miscast as an elite athlete. He was cast away at 23 as a platoon bat. He was always injured. And yet, he had a career .867 OPS in the minor leagues. He had pedigree as a top 10 MLB draft pick. And if he had access to teaching, information, and technology which all current major leaguers do, he may have been the perennial 30 HR, 100 RBI middle of the order hitter the Mariners believed he could be.
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