July 4, 2022 11:00 AM : Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Newman (groin/hamstring) will see time at both shortstop and second base once he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Newman served as Pittsburgh's primary shortstop in 2021 and opened the current season atop the depth chart at the position before landing on the IL in late April with a left groin strain. He then suffering a hamstring injury during his initial rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis in late May, resulting in his timeline for a return being pushed back. Newman restarted the minor-league assignment June 21 and has slashed .419/.424/.484 in his eight games with Indianapolis, likely setting him up to rejoin the big club this week. He'll be joining a Pirates club that has prioritized younger options in recent weeks, most notably installing hotshot rookie Oneil Cruz as its full-time shortstop. Though Cherington indicated Cruz "doesn't need to be at shortstop every day," the expectation is that the 28-year-old Newman will have to settle for more of a utility role while Cruz continues to see the bulk of the starts at shortstop.