Shervyen Newton

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #14 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Newton jumped on the prospect map in 2018, his fourth pro season, when he led the Rookie-level Appalachian League with 16 doubles and ranked second with 46 walks. He struggled mightily at low Class A Columbia in 2019, giving away at-bats and generally playing down to the competition as he shared the same infield with shortstop Ronny Mauricio and third baseman Mark Vientos.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Tall and rangy when he signed, Newton has continuously added muscle to his frame and stands out among his middle infield peers at 6-foot-4. He shows plus power in batting practice and posts high exit velocities, but pitch recognition and a high swing-and-miss rate limit his impact in games. Those attributes make him a poor bet to hit for average, though he does draw his share of walks. Newton has made the greatest strides on the defensive side, which he showcased at instructional league with his strong fundamentals and leadership. He is a smooth fielder at shortstop with average range and reliable hands. His strong arm makes him a candidate to move around the infield as needed.
  
  THE FUTURE: For a second straight offseason, Newton went unprotected and unselected in the Rule 5 draft. His combination of defensive know-how and power potential make him a possible future reserve infielder, but he is years away from realizing that potential.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #17 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Newton spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before bursting on the prospect scene at Rookie-level Kingsport in 2018, when the shortstop led the Appalachian League with 16 doubles. He fell flat in his follow up at low Class A Columbia in 2019, hitting .209 with one of the highest strikeout rates (33 percent) in the South Atlantic League and a .613 OPS that ranked ninth worst.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Newton missed time in spring training with a shoulder injury and never seemed to get into a groove. He made hard contact when he connected and had no trouble catching up with velocity, but breaking pitches gave him fits and led to a compromising swinging-strike rate. A 6-foot-4 switchhitter, Newton shows easy plus power from the left side and has a chance to develop into a power-over-hit infielder. Newton spent most of his time at second base while playing on the same Columbia infield as shortstop Ronny Mauricio and third baseman Mark Vientos. Newton's height and physicality stand out at second base, where he has the requisite athleticism, sure hands and arm strength. Some scouts envision him settling in at third base or possibly an outfield corner.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Mets left Newton unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, gambling that his rough edges would leave him without the skills needed to survive a season on the major league roster. They were right. He will need a big year with the bat to vault back into the Mets' plans.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Born in the Netherlands, Newton trained in Curacao at the same facility as Jonathan Schoop and Jurickson Profar. The Mets signed him for just $50,000 as part of the same 2015 signing class that also included system No. 1 prospect Andres Gimenez. Newton didn't make his U.S. debut until 2018, when he thrived at Rookie-level Kingsport. He led the Appalachian League with 16 doubles and ranked second with 46 walks and 50 runs.
  
  Scouting Report: Newton is a tall, athletic middle infielder with wicked bat speed and room to fill out and add power. He's a switch-hitter who can drive the ball deep to his pull side while batting lefthanded with quick hands he uses to keep his bat on plane through the hitting zone. Some scouts see potential 70-grade power down the line as his 6-foot-4 frame matures. Newton works deep counts and collects lots of walks and strikeouts, which will depress his average but boost his on-base percentage. He is a below-average runner who some scouts project to third base or possibly even an outfield corner. The Mets think Newton has the range, hands and plus arm to stay on the dirt, possibly at second base.
  
  The Future: Newton speaks multiple languages and translates for teammates, and that maturity will serve him as he advances to low Class A Columbia in 2019. His bat could be special if he keeps developing.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked National League #11 prospect in 2018
  Newton signed out of Curacao in 2015 then spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League. Making his U.S. debut in 2018 he began tapping into his power more consistently, with five home runs and 16 doubles—the most in the Appy League. Scouts believe Newton will wind up having plus raw power or better down the line as he fills out a frame that is currently listed at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds. A switch-hitter, Newton’s swing works from both sides though he’s more line-drive oriented from the right side and he walked three times more frequently from the left side. Defensively, Newton has quick hands and a strong arm, but he’s a below-average runner, and some scouts wonder if he will outgrow shortstop. He might fit better at second base or in on an outfield corner. Appy League managers, however, were impressed with Newton’s defensive play, and he should continue to get opportunities to stick there.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Newton jumped on the prospect map in 2018, his fourth pro season, when he led the Rookie-level Appalachian League with 16 doubles and ranked second with 46 walks. He struggled mightily at low Class A Columbia in 2019, giving away at-bats and generally playing down to the competition as he shared the same infield with shortstop Ronny Mauricio and third baseman Mark Vientos.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Tall and rangy when he signed, Newton has continuously added muscle to his frame and stands out among his middle infield peers at 6-foot-4. He shows plus power in batting practice and posts high exit velocities, but pitch recognition and a high swing-and-miss rate limit his impact in games. Those attributes make him a poor bet to hit for average, though he does draw his share of walks. Newton has made the greatest strides on the defensive side, which he showcased at instructional league with his strong fundamentals and leadership. He is a smooth fielder at shortstop with average range and reliable hands. His strong arm makes him a candidate to move around the infield as needed.
  
  THE FUTURE: For a second straight offseason, Newton went unprotected and unselected in the Rule 5 draft. His combination of defensive know-how and power potential make him a possible future reserve infielder, but he is years away from realizing that potential.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Newton jumped on the prospect map in 2018, his fourth pro season, when he led the Rookie-level Appalachian League with 16 doubles and ranked second with 46 walks. He struggled mightily at low Class A Columbia in 2019, giving away at-bats and generally playing down to the competition as he shared the same infield with shortstop Ronny Mauricio and third baseman Mark Vientos.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Tall and rangy when he signed, Newton has continuously added muscle to his frame and stands out among his middle infield peers at 6-foot-4. He shows plus power in batting practice and posts high exit velocities, but pitch recognition and a high swing-and-miss rate limit his impact in games. Those attributes make him a poor bet to hit for average, though he does draw his share of walks. Newton has made the greatest strides on the defensive side, which he showcased at instructional league with his strong fundamentals and leadership. He is a smooth fielder at shortstop with average range and reliable hands. His strong arm makes him a candidate to move around the infield as needed.
  
  THE FUTURE: For a second straight offseason, Newton went unprotected and unselected in the Rule 5 draft. His combination of defensive know-how and power potential make him a possible future reserve infielder, but he is years away from realizing that potential.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Newton jumped on the prospect map in 2018, his fourth pro season, when he led the Rookie-level Appalachian League with 16 doubles and ranked second with 46 walks. He struggled mightily at low Class A Columbia in 2019, giving away at-bats and generally playing down to the competition as he shared the same infield with shortstop Ronny Mauricio and third baseman Mark Vientos.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Tall and rangy when he signed, Newton has continuously added muscle to his frame and stands out among his middle infield peers at 6-foot-4. He shows plus power in batting practice and posts high exit velocities, but pitch recognition and a high swing-and-miss rate limit his impact in games. Those attributes make him a poor bet to hit for average, though he does draw his share of walks. Newton has made the greatest strides on the defensive side, which he showcased at instructional league with his strong fundamentals and leadership. He is a smooth fielder at shortstop with average range and reliable hands. His strong arm makes him a candidate to move around the infield as needed.
  
  THE FUTURE: For a second straight offseason, Newton went unprotected and unselected in the Rule 5 draft. His combination of defensive know-how and power potential make him a possible future reserve infielder, but he is years away from realizing that potential.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Newton spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before bursting on the prospect scene at Rookie-level Kingsport in 2018, when the shortstop led the Appalachian League with 16 doubles. He fell flat in his follow up at low Class A Columbia in 2019, hitting .209 with one of the highest strikeout rates (33 percent) in the South Atlantic League and a .613 OPS that ranked ninth worst.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Newton missed time in spring training with a shoulder injury and never seemed to get into a groove. He made hard contact when he connected and had no trouble catching up with velocity, but breaking pitches gave him fits and led to a compromising swinging-strike rate. A 6-foot-4 switchhitter, Newton shows easy plus power from the left side and has a chance to develop into a power-over-hit infielder. Newton spent most of his time at second base while playing on the same Columbia infield as shortstop Ronny Mauricio and third baseman Mark Vientos. Newton’s height and physicality stand out at second base, where he has the requisite athleticism, sure hands and arm strength. Some scouts envision him settling in at third base or possibly an outfield corner.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Mets left Newton unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, gambling that his rough edges would leave him without the skills needed to survive a season on the major league roster. They were right. He will need a big year with the bat to vault back into the Mets’ plans.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Newton spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before bursting on the prospect scene at Rookie-level Kingsport in 2018, when the shortstop led the Appalachian League with 16 doubles. He fell flat in his follow up at low Class A Columbia in 2019, hitting .209 with one of the highest strikeout rates (33 percent) in the South Atlantic League and a .613 OPS that ranked ninth worst.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Newton missed time in spring training with a shoulder injury and never seemed to get into a groove. He made hard contact when he connected and had no trouble catching up with velocity, but breaking pitches gave him fits and led to a compromising swinging-strike rate. A 6-foot-4 switchhitter, Newton shows easy plus power from the left side and has a chance to develop into a power-over-hit infielder. Newton spent most of his time at second base while playing on the same Columbia infield as shortstop Ronny Mauricio and third baseman Mark Vientos. Newton's height and physicality stand out at second base, where he has the requisite athleticism, sure hands and arm strength. Some scouts envision him settling in at third base or possibly an outfield corner.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Mets left Newton unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, gambling that his rough edges would leave him without the skills needed to survive a season on the major league roster. They were right. He will need a big year with the bat to vault back into the Mets' plans.