Latest Position Move Does Wonders for the Career of Modesto’s Newhan

Modesto’s David Newhan was just another outfielder with a little pop a month ago. He had nice numbers, good numbers, fine numbers, numbers that dozens of outfielders produce.

In other words, nothing made Newhan stand out.

But the chaos that has been the Modesto team this year changed that. Injuries and suspensions have had Newhan on the move.

The upside is Newhan is now considered a prospect at second base, a position that makes his 25 home runs and 75 runs batted in eye-catching. He will go to the Arizona Instructional League this fall to hone his infield skills.

“Hopefully, this will be a good career move,” said Newhan, who was a 17th-round draft pick by Oakland in 1995. “You have to put up big numbers every year as an outfielder. As a second baseman, my numbers stand out more.”

The Athletics certainly think so.

Newhan began playing second base occasionally in June, when injuries whittled away at the Modesto infield. By mid-August, the Athletics had noticed his abilities as an infielder.

“David was progressing as an outfielder, but as a second baseman he can move up quickly,” Oakland Asst. General Manager Billy Beane said. “We think he has the skills and quickness and aptitude to take a position change.”

Actually, it’s more a refresher course than a career change.

Newhan, 22, was a second baseman at Esperanza High School and Cypress College. But he was moved to first base when he went to Georgia Tech and then became an outfielder when he transferred to Pepperdine.

Athletic officials did not know Newhan had played the position when they drafted him. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

Modesto infielders kept getting hurt. Second baseman Fred Soriano broke his ankle in May. Third baseman Jeff D’Amico injured his knee in May. Shortstop Miguel Tejada dislocated his thumb in July.

Newhan was being used more and more at second base. He crammed for the position. He took ground balls every day and reached back in his memory to recall the ins and outs of the position.

“It was very uncomfortable at first,” Newhan said. “The toughest thing was learning to think like an infielder again. You really have to expect the ball a lot more. You have to communicate with the other guys, letting them know if you’re going to cover the bag. In the outfield, what you’re going to do is already decided. If there’s a runner on second and there’s a single, you’re going to throw home.”

Also, in an outfielder, you are expected to have big offensive numbers.

Newhan, who is 5 feet 10 and 180 pounds, has shown power in the past. He hit 11 home runs as a senior at Pepperdine to lead the West Coast Athletic Assn. He hit nine last season, splitting time between Southern Oregon and Western Michigan.

His hitting improved this season, in a flurry. Newhan was hitting .175 in early May and was one of four outfielders platooned in the lineup. Newhan’s numbers improved once he started playing regularly. He hit .336 in July and .355 with eight home runs in August.

His power picked up as well. Newhan has hit two home runs in a game four times, the last coming against Visalia last week. He hit for the cycle June 27. Newhan also has 27 doubles.

Those numbers are a bonus for a second baseman.

“We like to take advantage of that,” Beane said. “You have to hit like that to play the outfield. But his power is pretty attractive for a second baseman.”

Unfortunately for Newhan, his conversion has been put on hold for the time being. Modesto had five players suspended last week for their part in a fight during a game. Two were outfielders.

Newhan again was asked to fill in.

“We got guys playing all over the place right now,” Newhan said. “I’m not sure what the immediate plans are for me.”

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Modesto opens the California League playoffs today against Stockton. It should be anything but tame.

The two teams tangled last week in a beanball war that lasted three days. The finale was a bench-clearing brawl that resulted in suspensions for seven players and Modesto Manager Jim Colborn.

It began in the first game of the series, when Modesto outfielder Emil Brown was hit by a pitch. He was hit again in the third game by Stockton pitcher Greg Beck and the fight followed.

Five Modesto players, including Brown, were suspended. Two Stockton players, not including Beck, were suspended. The imbalance might be due to Modesto’s track record. This was the third fight this season for Modesto.

“I think the [league] president got upset with us,” Newhan said.

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Lake Elsinore, which also qualified for the playoffs, set a California League record for most runs in the first inning, scoring 14 on Aug. 25 against Stockton--all with two outs.

“We got a few runs and everyone was waiting for the final out to happen,” outfielder Cale Carter said. “Then we started hitting home runs.”

The Storm hit four, including one by Carter. It was his first as a professional.

Carter, who played at Mater Dei and Stanford, signed June 15. His playing time has increased because of injuries to Storm outfielders Phil Dawson (back), Jason Herrick (wrist) and Jed Dalton (back).

The team has only four outfielders active at the moment. That includes Dawson, who is trying to play through his injury.

It gave Carter his chance.

“I’ve never been a big-name person with a big reputation,” Carter said. “It always seem like I have to prove myself.”

Carter, who is generously listed at 5-10, is hitting .292 in 63 games.

“People have to see me play and see how I handle things before they judge my abilities,” Carter said.

Well, he didn’t handle his home run with complete grace. Carter said he was surprised the ball cleared the 30-foot, right-field wall at Lake Elsinore. He then had to remember to slow down and enjoy it.

“It didn’t sink in until I took off my helmet and batting gloves in the dugout,” he said. “The home trot was probably a little too fast.”