DJ Newman? More like DJ ‘two-man.’ 

The sophomore from Archbold, Ohio came to Bowling Green baseball with more than one talent. Newman pitches and bats, but the ‘catch’ is that he does both of them well. 

He was encouraged from the beginning of his baseball career to pursue both field positions and once he reached college, the opportunity only grew. 

In 2023, Newman appeared in 15 games on the mound, starting three. In his sophomore season so far, Newman has started seven games.

His head coach, Kyle Hallock, has encouraged Newman to work on both aspects of his game ever since he stepped foot on campus.

“When I came here, Coach Hallock told me to do both as long as I could,” said Newman. “It made it easy on me; no pressure.” 

Hallock noted Newman’s remarkable abilities and his competitive drive on the field. 

“I’m not going to stop him from doing everything he’s capable of doing,” said Hallock. “We talk about his gas tank; making sure it’s full enough to keep doing it. He’s so competitive that you’ve got to check on him from time to time.” 

Hallock was eager to describe Newman as a leader by example and a player who ‘doesn’t look five minutes behind or five minutes ahead,’ and is always in the moment, not looking ahead. 

“He sets the tone for us on Friday, game one of the weekend series,” he said. “He is the first guy you see from our pitching staff. He’s the example and the standard.” 

Newman has continued to accept his role, even with an arm injury that held him back at the beginning of the season. On top, he is also a student juggling academics and athletics with a demanding weekend schedule.

He goes to his trainers for arm care multiple times a week to make sure he’s in tip-top shape come gameday on the weekends. 

Newman said that there are benefits to being a two-way player and that he enjoys the opportunity to compete with his teammates. 

“As a hitter, you can see what pitches are hard to hit,” said Newman. “As a pitcher, you want to throw that pitch where people think, ‘I don’t want to hit that.’ It definitely helps to have both.” 

Being on the team can be difficult amidst all the other commitments, such as school. But when he gets in a rut, he is able to keep a good mindset. 

“Baseball is a game of failure. If I’m struggling, I just take a deep breath. The sun is going to shine tomorrow morning,” said Newman. 

Hallock shared that Newman is a winner who benefits the team with his efforts and is a player who worked hard growing up to be where he is. 

“He’s a special player. Players and people like DJ Newman are few and far between,” said Hallock. “I think personally, he’s the best sophomore two-way player in the country, and he’s right here in Bowling Green.”