2025 MLB Draft Pick DJ Newman Signs Deal With Houston Astros
HOUSTON, Texas – Bowling Green junior two-way player DJ Newman was selected by the Houston Astros during the 15th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, going 456th overall. Newman signed a contract to play for the Astros' organization last week. Newman is the 68th player in program history to be selected in the MLB Draft. The Falcons are now one of three teams in the Mid-American Conference with a player selected in both the 2024 and 2025 MLB Drafts, joined by Ball State and Miami (OH).
With Nathan Archer being selected in the 12th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox, the Falcons now have selections in back-to-back MLB Drafts for the first time since 2010-11. In 2010, Brennan Smith was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 33rd round. As for 2011, Jon Berti went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 18th round and Ross Gerdeman was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 35th round.
"Congratulations to DJ on graduating into professional baseball with the Houston Astros," said BGSU head coach Kyle Hallock. "This selection is the result of hard work through elite production while persevering through adversity. DJ's skill development in our program and will to succeed are major components to his success.
"As a local product, we appreciate the mark he left on our program. His college career concludes as a MLB Draft selection from BGSU and we look forward to supporting his journey to the big leagues."
Newman is coming off a strong three-year stretch in the Orange and Brown that earned him multiple accolades both at the conference and national levels. A two-way player for the Falcons, Newman was named the John Elerud Two-Way Player of the Week by the College Baseball Foundation this past season on March 18. The award came after he hit .583 with two home runs, six runs scored and four RBI while adding a four-inning start on the mound with a pair of strikeouts. Additionally for the season, the Archbold, Ohio native hit an appropriate .419, ranking fourth in program history for players with 50-100 at-bats in a season.
In 2024, Newman was named Second-Team All-MAC as a designated hitter, despite his season being cut short due to injury. He appeared in 35 games with 34 starts for BGSU, including eight appearances on the mound. During the season he slashed .371/.455/.664, ranking inside the top 10 in the MAC for all stats. He added a 15-game hitting streak to his season resume and maintained a 3.61 ERA while striking out 42 batters over 42.1 innings of work.
As for his freshman campaign, Newman earned unanimous Freshman All-America honors on top of being the MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-MAC as a DH. He led BGSU and all MAC freshman for batting average (.383) while finishing third in the MAC for on-base percentage (.481). As for the bump, he posted a 3.49 ERA while striking out 33 batters and walking just five over 28.1 innings of work.
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