Chris
Newell

A top-ranked prep, Newell turned down significant professional interest as a high school senior and instead headed to Charlottesville. After an excellent freshman season in 2020 that was shortened to just 18 games due to covid, he earned honors by D1Baseball.com as the ACC's Top Freshman, batting .407 with five doubles, a triple, four home runs and 20 RBI. The lanky, athletic-bodied center fielder showed near average arm strength in pre-game and it typically plays there in the game as well, but during game action on this look his arm played below average as he three-hopped a throw to home plate from short center field after fielding a base hit. As a plus runner Newell covers a lot of ground in the big field and does it in all directions. At the plate his long swing needs some cleanup to realize his hitting potential. His strength and length give him better than average raw power, especially to center and left center. His pull side power is limited due to top spin as the ball does not carry much. The left handed bat has a ton of ability and skill, he simply needs to get to it with greater consistency in games. More speed than instincts he's an occasional base stealer who takes more safe than aggressive leads. Once considered a potential top round pick, Newell is no longer currently viewed by the industry as such, much due to his 33/100 career BB/K ratio, as well as a 31% strikeout rate over his three collegiate seasons.

Newell’s tantalizing power/speed combination and standout production during the four-week 2020 season made him a first-team preseason All-American heading into 2021, but that forecast proved premature, as he struggled to make consistent contact for much of the spring, having particular difficulty with breaking stuff. He persevered and found his footing down the stretch, playing very well in the postseason, even leading all CWS hitters in batting after going 6-for-10 with two homers and five RBIs in Omaha. Newell has continued to put up strong numbers in the Cape despite a poor K-BB mark (17-2 in 55 at-bats); he’s hitting .291/.328/.582 with four home runs, two doubles, one triple and 11 RBIs. We were on hand for his best game at Hyannis, when he hit both an RBI triple and a two-run double in the first inning alone, then added a single in the sixth. Physical and athletic at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Newell has a wide base and a short stride with some length in his lefthanded swing, and he can hit the ball a mile when he connects — as he did on a moonshot to right-center on July 12 at Chatham, crushing a fastball. He still gets fooled by breaking balls at times, but we’ve seen him make adjustments and handle them better than he did for much of the spring. He has a pull-side approach and can get caught hooking the ball. Newell is at least a solid-average runner up the line, and he can make up for misreads in center field with excellent closing speed. He also has a solid-average or slightly better arm in center. If his plate discipline continues to improve, Newell offers rare five-tool potential for the 2022 draft.

A Virginia recruit, Newell looks like a big leaguer as soon as he takes the field thanks to his strong, athletic frame with broad shoulders at about 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. Newell sets up with a wide base and his weight shifted slightly to his back leg. He gets barrel in his load and takes a short stride before exploding toward the pitch. He has a pull approach. Leading off for the Friars, he dropped down a bunt on the first pitch and beat it out, getting down the line in about 3.7 seconds. He stole second base with relative ease, but was caught trying to swipe third. In his next at-bat, he jumped on the first pitch, yanking a double to right field. He eventually scored on a wild pitch. In his final two at-bats, Newell flew out to left field and grounded out to first base. Was very aggressive Wednesday, putting the ball in play on the first pitch in every at-bat.

OF, has a plus frame at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. In his first at-bat, he hammered an RBI triple to right-center field off a 90 mph fastball. His exit velocity was 100.

8.6.18 Area Code Games
Left-handed hitter has a plus frame, standing at a projectable 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with lean strength. He was pull oriented in BP and showed a slight arm bar, but has torque in his swing that produced above-average raw power.

6/15/18 Put together impressive offensive numbers during his junior season. Hit .394 with six doubles, seven triples and five home runs while driving in 26 and scoring 43 times. Big power potential from the left side of the plate with above average foot speed.

4/10/18 Newell reached base twice on infield errors on the right side of the infield, beating out play to the base and showcasing some of the impressive speed that makes him an exciting outfield prospect. He served as the DH, so there wasn't a chance to see him showcase his defensive skills. However, he posted home-to-first times at 4.04 and 4.08, and just missed a fastball in his final at bat, flying out to center field (in air for 6.09 seconds). Despite not being at his best, it is still clear why he's such a highly touted prospect.

6/4/17 Long, lanky and loose frame. Ball comes out well on the bump. Quick arm. 3/4 slot. FB has life. 84-90. Really mostly 87. 70 CB. 80 CH.

4/21/17 Left-handed hitting Virginia commit battled a senior UNC-bound RHP (whose fastball touched 94 mph) on his way to two infield singles. Can really, really run, getting down the line with home-to-1B times of 3.94, 4.03, and 4.09. Lean, athletic build with plenty of arm strength from the outfield.