Austin Newton knows that his baseball future is up in the air.
Newton also knows that regardless of which direction he goes, baseball is going to be at the center of his life for years to come.
As things now stand, Newton is scheduled to return to the University of South Florida, and he is on pace to complete his senior season as a pitcher with the USF baseball team while earning a degree in marketing.
Things could change, however, if his name is called in the upcoming MLB draft or if he signs a free agent contract with an MLB organization.
Either way, Newton is confident that he is heading into the next chapter of his baseball life with his best foot forward.
“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of challenges over the past couple of years, but I feel like I’ve battled through any adversity that I’ve faced and became better for it,” Newton said. “The path is never a straight line, it’s never easy even when things appear to be going good.
“How you respond to the difficult times ultimately determines your future. Baseball is such a tough game. You have to accept the tough times to get to the top.”
Newton’s time with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers definitely indicates that he is indeed being rewarded for his never-give-up attitude. The 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher enjoyed a brief but eye-opening stint with the Scrappers before shutting down his season ahead of next week’s draft.
Newton started four games with the Scrappers and posted a 1-0 record with a 0.56 ERA. In 16 innings of work, he walked just two batters while recording 10 strikeouts. He allowed one run and four hits during his time in the MLB Draft League.
Newton suffered an injury this past spring in his first start of the year at South Florida and didn’t return to the mound until late April. He struggled in his return but found his groove as the season moved forward.
“I had a couple of rough starts when I came back, but I moved to the bullpen, found my confidence and things started rolling from there,” Newton said. “I finished my junior season on a strong note, then came straight to Mahoning Valley and maintained the momentum.
“I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to pitch in the Draft League. It gave me the opportunity to continue the momentum that started this past spring. It also gave me a chance to perform in front of scouts and show that I can compete against some of the best hitters out there. I was able to call my own game while working at a quick pace. It was a good change of pace from the college game.”
A native of Tampa, Newton grew up playing golf and pickleball, and he has always been a huge hockey fan, noting, “Oddly enough, a lot of friends are huge into hockey down here in Florida, and I was always a big supporter.”
However, he gravitated toward baseball at an early age, and the passion was instant and long-lasting.
“It’s just something I instantly fell in love with,” Newton said. “Unlike a lot of the guys I’ve played with and against over the years, I don’t come from a baseball family. No one in my family ahead of me played at the college level or anything like that. It’s just kind of always been me, it’s been my thing and it always will.”
In fact, even when his playing days are over, Newton hopes to remain in the game as a coach. For the past two summers, he worked as an instructor at all of the summer children’s camps at USF.
“I had a blast, and it really reaffirmed my desire to one day coach at some level,” Newton said. “Some of the most impactful people in my life have been my coaches.
“I would love to one day make an impact on players that same way. I would love to give back to this game.”
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