Pirates select shortstop Kevin Newman at 19, choose third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes at 32

PIRATES TAKE SHORTSTOP KEVIN NEWMAN AT NO. 19

In a shortstop heavy first round, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Arizona university shortstop Kevin Newman with the No. 19 overall selection and took high school third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes at No. 32.

It marks the second straight year the Pirates took a shortstop in the first round, selecting Cole Tucker in the 2014 draft.

Newman who was scouted by Pirates area scout Derrick Van Dusen, was named a first-team Pac-12 selection this year after hitting .370 (84-for-227) with 19 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 36 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 55 games this season with the University of Arizona. He was also named to this year’s USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List, a second-team Louisville Slugger pre-season All-American and a Perfect Game pre-season third-team All-American.

As a sophomore in 2014, Newman was named to the Pac-12 all-conference team and Pac-12 all-defensive team while hitting .304 in 55 games.

In 2013 with Arizona, he earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors and was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference team. He was also one of two freshmen to be named a quarter finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award for the best college shortstop.

Newman took home back-to-back batting titles while playing in the prestigious Cape Cod League after hitting .375 in 2013 and .380 in 2014. He became the first freshman in Cape Cod League history to win the batting title in 2013.

Newman was Baseball America’s No. 29 rated prospect, while ESPN’s Keith Law had Newman rated the second best prospect in the draft.

Newman is regarded as one of the best pure hitters in the draft among college players.

Hayes the son of former Hayes hit .436 (41-for-94) with 16 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 27 RBI and 12 stolen bases as a senior this year at Concordia Lutheran (TX) High School.