One of the top prep baseball players in Kansas is staying home.
Manhattan High rising junior Asher Newton announced his commitment to Kansas State baseball, sharing the news Thursday on social media with the caption, “Staying Home. Go Cats!”
Newton, a 6-foot, 180-pound shortstop in the Class of 2028, recently represented Team Kansas at the 2026 Prep Baseball Future Games before announcing his commitment to the Wildcats.
The commitment comes after a standout sophomore season in which Newton helped lead Manhattan to a 21-5 record, a Class 6A regional championship and the program’s second consecutive state tournament appearance. The Indians’ season ended in the state quarterfinals against eventual 6A champion Washburn Rural.
Newton earned first-team All-Centennial League and second-team Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches All-State honors after producing one of the top offensive seasons in the league.
To read the rest of the story, visit and subscribe to The Mercury!
