UPDATE - Newman has been assigned to the opening day roster of the Johnson City Cardinals, the St. Louis rookie ball affiliate in the Appalachian League. Johnson City's season begins on Tuesday, June 23, against Kingsport. 

Full release

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Trevecca Nazarene University junior Hunter Newman, an NCAA Division II All-American third baseman, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round with the 671st pick overall on Wednesday. 

Newman represents the third Great Midwest Athletic Conference baseball student-athlete picked in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Cedarville saw Ryan and David Ledbetter drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2013 MLB Draft.
 
Newman said, "It was the most amazing phone call I've ever gotten. I owe so much to coach (Ryan) Schmalz, coach (Nachion) Moore, coach (Luke) Brown, coach (Mark) Rayburn, and coach (Brad) Coon. I wouldn't have this chance if it wasn't for them working with me on and off the field. I want to thank God so much for giving me this opportunity! I'm going to miss playing with all of my boys at Trevecca, but they are going to do great things next year and I can't wait to watch how they do!"
 
Trevecca baseball coach Ryan Schmalz said, "I'm really happy for Hunter. The draft is a special time for these guys, a life-long dream to be a professional. He's worked really hard and dedicated himself his whole life to have this chance. My opinion is he is going to be a professional for a long time."
 
Schmalz added, "From the day he stepped on campus he has probably been our best hitter. He's a baseball rat, but a small town guy who likes to hunt and fish. He'll be an asset on an off the field to any team he plays for."
 
After being an all-star in the Valley League last year, he is playing in the Coastal Plains League (Edenton Steamers) this summer and has already earned the Coastal Plains League Player of the Week honor. Newman profiles as a first baseman according to the MLB Draft Tracker information provided. 
 
Newman is  American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-American. The Goodpasture Christian School product made the second team  and added this honor to a laundry list of accolades from various organizations this season. He is a third-team member of the 2015 Daktronics All-American team, making him the first Trevecca or Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) player to make that team. Two organizations, the ABCA/Rawlings and Daktronics, named him their 2015 Midwest Player of the Year. He is the 2015 G-MAC Player of the Year, a G-MAC first team all-conference selection, a ABCA/Rawlings Midwest Region first team honoree, a Daktronics Midwest Region first teamer, and honored as a NCBWA Midwest Region first team member.  
 
Newman hit .451 and led the Trojans and the G-MAC in batting average, home runs (18), runs batted in (77), slugging percentage (.877), on-base percentage (.558), total bases (171), walks (39) and tied for the lead in hit by pitches (13). His 18 home runs are 11th best in Division II.
 
Newman is a three-time selection to the G-MAC all-conference team. He helped lead the Trojans to a 36-18 mark and the G-MAC regular and postseason championships for the third-consecutive season. Newman is on course to set nearly every Trevecca baseball offensive mark as a senior. In just three years he has established several records in the young history of the G-MAC.