Sean Newcomb

Sean William Newcomb (born June 12, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at the University of Hartford. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Newcomb in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft, and traded him to the Braves in 2015. He made his MLB debut in 2017.

Sean Newcomb
Newcomb with the Atlanta Braves in 2018
Atlanta Braves – No. 15
Pitcher
Born: (1993-06-12) June 12, 1993
Brockton, Massachusetts
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 10, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record22–23
Earned run average4.16
Strikeouts343
Teams

Amateur career

Newcomb attended Middleborough High School in Middleborough, Massachusetts.[1] As a senior, he had a 0.46 earned run average (ERA) with 110 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched.[2]

After high school, Newcomb enrolled at the University of Hartford. As a freshman for the Hartford Hawks baseball team in 2012, Newcomb started nine games before suffering a season-ending injury. His first college win was a no-hitter against Yale.[1][3] He finished the year with a 2–4 win-loss record with a 4.17 ERA and 45 strikeouts in ​45 1⁄3 innings. As a sophomore in 2013, he started 12 of 13 games, going 5–4 with a 3.75 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 72 innings. In 2012 and 2013, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4] Newcomb started his junior season without allowing a run through his first ​39 2⁄3 innings.[5][6] He finished the year 8–2 with a 1.25 ERA and 106 strikeouts in ​93 1⁄3 innings. He was named the 2014 America East Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first Hawk to win a major conference award.

Professional career

Los Angeles Angels

Newcomb was considered a top prospect for the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[7] He was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[8] He signed with the Angels, receiving a $2,518,000 signing bonus.[9] Newcomb was assigned to the Class A Burlington Bees and later, in 2015, promoted to the Class AA Arkansas Travelers,[10][11] where he ended his first full season in professional baseball; he had a combined 2.38 ERA across 3 levels. Finishing 2nd in minor league baseball with 168 strikeouts.[12]

Atlanta Braves

On November 12, 2015, the Angels traded Newcomb, Erick Aybar, Chris Ellis and cash considerations to the Atlanta Braves for Andrelton Simmons and José Briceño.[13] The Braves invited Newcomb to spring training and he spent the 2016 season with the Double A Mississippi Braves.[14][15] While pitching in the Southern League, he posted 4.6 walks per nine innings with a 3.86 ERA.[16]

Newcomb was invited to spring training for the second time at the start of the 2017 season.[17] He started the 2017 season with the Gwinnett Braves of the Class AAA International League.[18] Newcomb pitched to a 2.97 ERA in ​54 2⁄3 innings, alongside 74 strikeouts and 33 walks prior to his first promotion to the major leagues.[19][20] He made his major league debut on June 10, 2017, for the Braves at SunTrust Park against the New York Mets. He pitched ​6 1⁄3 innings, allowing four hits and one unearned run with seven strikeouts.[21] For the season, he was 4–9 with a 4.32 ERA.[22] On July 29, 2018, Newcomb took a no-hitter through ​8 2⁄3 innings until Chris Taylor singled. The Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–1.[23] After this outing, social media posts Newcomb made to Twitter at the age of eighteen came to light. The comments included homophobic slurs and racial epithets.[24][25] During the 2018 season, Newcomb tallied an ERA of 3.91, but struggled over his final fourteen starts, recording a 5.50 ERA in that span.[26]

Newcomb started the Braves' first game at SunTrust Park in 2019. He faced the Chicago Cubs, pitching four innings of an 8–0 win.[27] Newcomb completed the seventh inning in his next game against the Miami Marlins,[28] but struggled against the New York Mets,[29] leading to his demotion to the Gwinnett Stripers on April 14.[30][31] Newcomb returned to the major league club on May 4,[32] and made several relief appearances.[33][34] He returned to the starting rotation to face the Philadelphia Philles on June 15, 2019. Newcomb was struck in the head by a batted ball from J. T. Realmuto, and left the game.[35][36] He was subsequently placed on the seven-day injured list.[37][38] Newcomb was reactivated on June 25,[39] and faced the Chicago Cubs as a reliever that night.[40][41]

Personal

Newcomb was a fan of the Boston Red Sox growing up.[42]

References
  1. Johnson, John R. (March 16, 2014). "Middleborough grad drawing MLB scouts". Boston Globe. Boston.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  2. Shepard, Cody (July 31, 2018). "Atlanta pitcher from Middleboro first threw the heat, then faced it". The Enterprise. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  3. Johnson, John R. (April 5, 2012). "Middleborough's Newcomb makes an impressive start on the hill at Hartford". Boston.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  4. "Top three draft picks from CCBL start pro careers". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. Dudek, Greg (April 10, 2014). "Sean Newcomb off to hot start at U Hartford". South Coast Today. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  6. "MLB scouts flock to see Hartford pitcher Sean Newcomb who leads Division I with 0.00 ERA". New York Daily News. Associated Press. April 4, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  7. Law, Keith (March 21, 2014). "Future 50: Aiken No. 1". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  8. Gonzalez, Alden (June 5, 2014). "Angels use first pick on college lefty Newcomb". MLB.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  9. DiGiovanna, Mike (July 18, 2014). "Angels sign top pick Sean Newcomb for $2.518 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  10. "Angels' First Rounder Newcomb Makes Debut Tuesday". MILB.com. August 11, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  11. Gonzalez, Alden (July 31, 2015). "Top prospect Newcomb promoted to Double-A". MLB.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  12. Bowman, Mark (February 21, 2016). "Newcomb embraces opportunity with Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  13. "Braves deal Andrelton Simmons to Angels for Erick Aybar in SS swap". ESPN.com. November 12, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  14. Kraft, Alex (March 12, 2016). "Braves send Newcomb to Minors camp". MILB.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  15. Black, Miranda (April 4, 2016). "M-Braves Announce Travel Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  16. Bowman, Mark (February 20, 2017). "Newcomb bringing confidence, command to camp". MLB.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  17. Bowman, Mark (January 25, 2017). "Albies, Newcomb among Braves' NRIs to camp". MLB.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  18. Culpepper, JuliaKate E. (May 1, 2017). "Gwinnett Braves' Newcomb ties personal strike out record in loss to Pawtucket". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  19. O'Brien, David (June 7, 2017). "Newcomb to make highly anticipated MLB debut with start Saturday". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  20. Bowman, Mark (June 7, 2017). "Braves prospect Newcomb will debut in DH". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  21. Bowman, Mark (June 10, 2017). "Newcomb dynamic in Major League debut". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  22. O'Brien, David (May 12, 2018). "Newcomb starting to look like pitcher Braves thought he could be". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  23. McElhaney, Tori (July 29, 2018). "Newcomb falls 1 out shy of no-no in Braves' win". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  24. Gardner, Steve (July 29, 2018). "Atlanta Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb tweeted homophobic slurs in 2011, 2012". USA Today. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  25. "Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb apologizes for offensive tweets". ESPN.com. July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  26. Bowman, Mark (February 19, 2019). "Newcomb's value depends highly on '19 growth". MLB.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  27. Russo, Kelsey (April 2, 2019). "Sean Newcomb works through jams in Braves' home opener". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  28. Odum, Charles (April 7, 2019). "Swanson, catcher's interference call help Braves top Marlins". Associated Press. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  29. Bowman, Mark (April 14, 2019). "Touki Time just hours after joining Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  30. Burns, Gabriel (April 14, 2019). "Braves option Sean Newcomb to Triple-A". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  31. "Braves send down Newcomb; Vizcaino to IL". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  32. "Braves recall Newcomb, send down Toussaint". Gwinnett Daily Post. May 4, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  33. Bowman, Mark (June 16, 2019). "Braves eye 9 straight in Newcomb's spot start". Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  34. Bowman, Mark (June 11, 2019). "Newcomb slated to start Saturday vs. Phillies". MLB.com. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  35. Bowman, Mark (June 16, 2019). "Newcomb passes tests after taking liner off head". MLB.com. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  36. "Braves' Newcomb exits after line drive off head". ESPN.com. June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  37. Bowman, Mark (June 19, 2019). "Sean Newcomb placed on concussion IL". MLB.com. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  38. "Braves place Newcomb on 7-day concussion list". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  39. Bowman, Mark (June 25, 2019). "Riley rooting for ASG finalists: 'I'm super happy'". MLB.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  40. Bowman, Mark (June 25, 2019). "Acuna, Albies turn Wrigley into All-Star stump". MLB.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  41. "Albies, Acuña hit homers to lead Braves past Cubs 3-2". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  42. Wilborn, Nubyjas (July 1, 2017). "Braves' Sean Newcomb adjusting well to life in majors". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
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