Kansas City Royals: Get to Know Jake Newberry

The Kansas City Royals are a team who can tell their fair share of underdog stories. They snuck in to the Wild Card game and made it to game seven of the 2014 World Series. They came back to the Fall Classic and won it all the next season. People love a story that inspires.

In relief pitcher Jake Newberry the Kansas City Royals have the plot for yet another classic tale. On an overcast, cool, windy Thursday night in Springfield, MO I was able to speak with Mr. Newberry. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate) were set to face the Springfield Cardinals.

Newberry came into the night holding the saves lead for the Texas League (15). The pitcher, who was selected in round 37 out of high school, was still flying under the radars of most fans. Even though his numbers screamed for their attention, you would not find his name among the top prospects in the Kansas City Royals system.

Trust me…it is only a matter of time before that changes.

I met with Jake in the visitor’s dugout at Hammons Field before the game. Instead of rambling off stats, which you can find here, or giving you the typical “here’s a question, here’s an answer” format – I want fans to get to know the RHP in hisown words. Maybe with the help of Naturals radio announcer Benjamin Kelly as well.

“I’m confident that he is going to go out and get three outs one way or another. “
– Benjamin Kelly

(Words of Jake Newberry appear in quotes) 

Christopher Jake Newberry grew up in San Diego, CA. The city has a rich baseball history and “it’s truly what everybody hears.” “You play year-round. In San Diego it is 75 [degrees] on Christmas day. You’re able to still go out and play. We got more out of the game, more out of the coaching, for that reason.”

More time on the field meant that the competition went up a notch. “Everybody is out so often making their game better, going to a tournament in Nevada you’re just like ‘Wow’, you can tell a difference.” When everyone else is improving you have to as well or you get left behind.

For Jake it came to a decision. Was he going to play college ball, or did he think that he was good enough to go pro?

That decision came “a week or two left in my [final] high school season, to be honest.” “We were playing in Petco Park, we were having one of the high school invitation things down there. I was pitching against another guy who all the scouts were out there to watch him. It was kind of one of those ‘right place, right time’ scenarios.”

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“I out pitched him and kind of got on their radars. It kind of took off from there. All of a sudden every game I was at, where I was going to throw, there were scouts there. It happened so fast.”

“I was getting looked at by little NAIA [schools] in Nebraska and Kansas, but I didn’t want to go play NAIA. I was going to go play Junior College in San Diego and see what I could get out there. The Mariners, the Royals, and a couple of other teams said they were interested. It was like ‘okay, maybe if I do get drafted I go play pro ball…what if I get hurt and never get the opportunity.’ If it didn’t work out college wasn’t going anywhere.”

With major league teams showing their interest Jake declared for the amateur draft. Day one and two of the draft came and went without Newberry being selected. On the third day, during round 37, everything changed for Jake.

“I was in school all day listening. They called me the night before and said ‘we might pick you, we’ll see how everything lines up.’ It got to sixth period and I had to go out to baseball and had put my phone away. My best friend’s dad called me while I was throwing my bullpen and he had heard my name get called.”

“Getting to hear it from somebody else kind of sucked, but at the same time it’s not a feeling like any other. You can’t describe it. It’s one of those things where you hear it and you get overcome with emotion. You almost get quiet to the point where people are asking ‘are you okay? You just got drafted.’ There are just no words to say.”

“Being a part of the Kansas City Royals, they are a class act organization. Growing up I didn’t hear much about them really. I heard of them, it wasn’t one of those teams where ‘oh I don’t like them because they are this or that.’ The Royals you never hear anything bad about them. I wanted to see what they were like.”

“Of course everyone wants to be a first rounder. But looking back, even the year after the draft, it doesn’t matter if you’re a first rounder or a fortieth. You are going to get the same opportunities to do what they drafted you to do.”

“I would say that he is a warrior out there on the mound. That would be my biggest thing. I don’t like getting beat.”

Jake has definitely done what he was drafted to do. After being in 2017 mini-camp during Spring Training, Newberry was sent to Double-A and earned a spot in the Texas League All-Star game.

“It was an amazing experience. My girlfriend was able to make it [to the game] so she got to be a part of it with me. It was my first ever mid-season selection. I didn’t even know if I was going to throw in it. But the manager was like ‘we gotta get this guy in now.’ In the eighth inning I was in the bullpen, I was used to throwing that late in games at that point. The ‘closer’ as they would say.”

With the Kansas City Royals looking to make another hopeful playoff push, in a season where perhaps not as much was expected of them, there are similarities between the team and Newberry. Does the push the big club has made drive the 22 year old?

“To be honest I don’t think too much into it. All I can control is going out there and pitching when I get my name called. Obviously seeing what they’re doing gets you excited to possibly be a part of that. Either in the coming months or next year even.”

“This is one of those teams that have proven the last five years that you can’t count them out. They are going to come back and surprise people. That is what’s the most exciting for me. I consider myself an underdog in a way. You watch these guys who are always considered underdogs prove that they…are not. That’s a big thing for me.”

So what does he expect out of himself?

“The saves list for the Naturals is at 19 for the team record. I’m at 15. A short term goal is to either tie that or break it. The bigger picture is to be in the big leagues. In September everyone wants to be there. If that’s not your goal, why are you playing?”

I asked Naturals radio broadcaster Benjamin Kelly, who gets to watch Jake on a daily basis, what he thought about the team’s closer.

“Jake, the thing about him is, he has kind of burst onto the scene. He’s got a big fastball and a great slider, that’s what a lot of the Kansas City Royals people like about him. He is continuing to mature as a baseball player. He has taken some great strides.”

“Jake thrives in that moment. He loves to be the guy in the back end. He’s got great stuff. Obviously there are still some things that he needs to work out, but he’s a great guy who loves to compete. I’m confident that he is going to go out and get three outs one way or another. “

“He is up for a Rule-5 pick this year, so the team has got to make a decision. It will be interesting to see.”

And what does Jake Newberry say about Jake Newberry?

“I would say that he is a warrior out there on the mound. That would be my biggest thing. I don’t like getting beat.”

Kansas City Royals fans need to take stock of Jake Newberry. It looks like he is not going to get the chance to set that Naturals’ record for saves. The reason…oh he was just called up to Triple-A Omaha. He his knocking on the door of realizing his major league dream.

Next: State of the Farm System

With a Kansas City Royals team that has sputtered since the trade deadline, could we see Newberry in the KC pen in September? I believe he has a good of a shot at that call-up as any prospect in the system. I for one am pulling for him. Soon I believe Royals Nation will be as well.