Mike Salas
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.
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.
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.
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
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