Dodgers Farm Player Spotlight: Great Lake Loons OF Chris Newell.

MILB

23-year-old outfielder Chris Newell is a 6’3 left-handed batter who is a starter for the Dodgers Affiliate Great Lake Loons. Chris was picked #405 by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2022 MLB draft from the Virginia Cavaliers. While at Virginia, Chris earned All-American honors and National Freshmen of the Year awards in 2020. His stats at Virginia were as follows, 443AB / 123H / 21HR / 86RBI / 162K / 37SB / .279AVG / .388OBP / .472SLG.

Sports Illustrated

After signing with the Dodgers in August of 2022, Newell was assigned to the ACL Dodgers in Arizona. Chris played in the ACL (Arizona Complex League) for 3 months before moving up to the Dodgers Single-A Affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in April of 2023. Newell demonstrated an ability to be a reliable hitter with Rancho and showed some power with the bat. He was an outstanding OF with a strong arm and received the CAL Player of the week in April 2023. Newell’s time in Rancho was short, in 41 games Newell had 48H / 8 2B / 14 HR / 38 RBI / .312 BA / .426 OBP / .662 SLG / 1.088 OPS.

Dodgers Digest

In May of 2023 Newell was sent up to the Dodgers High-A Affiliate Great Lake Loons. In the months of May and August, Newell spent time on 7-day IL and was activated in September 2023 to the team. 2024 is Newell’s first full season with the Loons and is already standing out as a power hitter and set to break HR records with the club. Newell shows his speed and ability tracking balls in the outfield and a strong arm. Newell’s stats with Loons in 2024 31R / 33H / 13HR / 36RBI / 6SB / .219AVG / .359OBP / .896OPS / .543SLG.

Loons X

Chris Newell has demonstrated power and clutch hitting while in the minors/college and gives the Dodgers options of a left-handed batter and fills that void of a career OF for the team. Newell is an exciting player to watch, not just for his defense abilities but also for his ability to change a game when the momentum needs to switch with a swing of the bat. I’m excited to follow Newell’s career in the minors and will not be surprised if he is moved up to the Dodgers Double-A Affiliate Tulsa Drillers or Triple-A OKC this year.

For Dodgers Beat, I’m Mike Salas

Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Written by Mike Salas

Dodgers Farm: Friday Night Baseball

Dodgers Opinion : Bo Bichette in Dodger Blue is not that farfetched