A reliever over his first three-plus minor league seasons, Steve Newton got a chance to start at single-A Columbia mid-way through his 1989 campaign, The Columbia State wrote.
He then took that chance to early success - two-straight wins, The State wrote.
"I'm winning as a starter, so I'll take the starts," Newton told The State after that second win. "It's easier to get into the groove as a starter."
Newton's turn as a starter proved brief enough - he started nine games on the year and returned to relief. He saw time in two more campaigns, for six in all. He topped out at high-A.
Newton's career began in 1986, taken by the Mets in the fourth round of the 1986 January draft out of Pensacola State College.
Newton started with the Mets at rookie Kingsport. He got into 15 games in relief, starting one. He went 0-2, with three saves, but had a 10.72 ERA.
One early season outing drew praise from his manager Chuck Hiller as Hiller spoke to The Kingsport Times-News about another reliever and Newton.
"He did a good job tonight," Hiller told The Times-News of the other reliever, adding, "So did the last kid (Newton)."
Newton moved to short-season Little Falls for 1987 and 1988. He saw 25 outings in 1987 and saved seven, with a 2.20 ERA, then 17 outings and a 6.03 ERA there in 1988.
Newton then played 1989 at Columbia. He went 5-5, with a 3.97 ERA and two saves. For 1990, he played at high-A St. Lucie, ending with a 5.19 ERA. He then moved to the Padres and single-A Charleston for 1991. He saw nine relief outings there to end his career.
- Kingsport Times-News, June 23, 1986: Twins whip K-Mets, 8-4
- Columbia State, July 15, 1989: Mets cruise past Myrtle Beach
Made the Majors:1,276-33.8%
Never Made Majors:2,501-66.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:525
10+ Seasons in the Minors:313
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