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Transfer portal commit DJ Newman signs with Houston Astros

On3 imageby: Eric Cain07/24/25_Cainer
DJ Newman. Credit: Lauren Laudato (BGSU Athletics)
DJ Newman. Credit: Lauren Laudato (BGSU Athletics)

Tennessee baseball transfer portal commit DJ Newman, a 2-way player from Bowling Green, has signed with the Houston Astros after being drafted in the 15th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft with the No. 456 overall pick.

Entering the draft, Newman was expected to make it to campus, though was draft eligible. He was not ranked inside MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 draft prospects or Baseball America’s Top 500 list. Still, his two-way prowess was appealing enough for the Astros to take a hance on him late in the draft. He committed to Tennessee out of the transfer portal in June.

Newman was a two-way star for Bowling Green the past three seasons, logging most starts as the club’s designated hitter with a few appearances in the outfield. The right-handed pitcher also shined on the mound prior to a pair of season-ending injuries that cut short both his 2024 and 2025 campaigns.

As a hitter, Newman appeared in 25 games this past spring, posting a team-best .419 batting average with career-high marks in on-base percentage (.495), slugging percentage (.645) and doubles (9). His nine stolen bases in 25 games was good enough for third on the squad as he finished with four home runs and 16 runs batted in. The right-handed hitter struck out 16 times and walked on 14 occasions in 2025.   

Newman was named Second-Team All-MAC in 2024 as a designated hitter, logging a .371 batting average and 1.119 OPS (third in the conference) in 35 games. He scored a career-high 45 runs, blasted 10 homers and stole 10 bases while driving in 37 runs. The two-way player racked up a 15-game hitting streak during the season, which was the eighth-longest in program history.  

Newman was named the MAC Freshman Pitcher of the year in 2023, to go along with Freshman All-American honors from Baseball America, D1 Baseball, NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.

Fellow transfer portal commits Mason Estrada and Clay Edmondson – both pitchers – were also drafted and expected to sign professional contracts.

Tennessee in the 2025 MLB Draft

Round 1 (No. 5 overall) Liam Doyle – Cardinals*
Round 1 (No. 9 overall) Steele Hall (signee) – Reds*
Round 1 (No. 10 overall) Billy Carlson (signee) – White Sox*
Round 1 (No. 13 overall) Gavin Kilen – Giants*
Round 1 (No. 20 overall) Andrew Fischer – Brewers*
Round 1 (No. 25 overall) Kruz Schoolcraft (signee) – Padres*
Round 1 (No. 33 overall) Marcus Phillips – Red Sox*
Round 2 (No. 52 overall) AJ Russell – Rangers*
Round 2 (No. 64 overall) Dean Curley – Guardians
Round 2 (No. 72 overall) Tanner Franklin – Cardinals*
Round 3 (No. 105 overall) Nate Snead – Angels*
Round 5 (No. 149 overall) Matt Barr (JUCO) – Twins*
Round 7 (No. 225 overall) Mason Estrada (portal) – Dodgers
Round 14 (No. 430 overall) Clay Edmondson (portal) – Padres
Round 15 (No. 456 overall) DJ Newman (portal) – Astros*
Round 17 (No. 522 overall) Cannon Peebles – Guardians*
Round 18 (No. 534 overall) Ethan Moore (signee) – Reds
Round 19 (No. 572 overall) Cameron Appenzeller (signee) – Mariners

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