Atlanta Braves Newcomer Review: Sean Newcomb

Sep 29, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A low amount of fans scatter the stadium as Atlanta Braves starting pitcher

(37) delivers a pitch to a Washington Nationals batter in the second inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

New Atlanta Braves Lefty Sean Newcomb

Who Is He?

Newcomb was the reported jewel of the Andrelton Simmons trade with the Angels. The left-handed pitcher was selected 15th overall in the 2014 draft by Los Angeles out of the University of Hartford in Connecticut. He is originally from Massachusetts, born in June of 1993. Scouts raved about his great frame (6’5, 245 pounds listed) and tremendous movement on his pitches.

The Angels started Newcomb in their Arizona League rookie affiliate in 2014 where he threw only 3 innings over 2 starts before being quickly promoted to Burlington in the low-A Midwest League. While he only threw 11 1/3 innings over 4 starts with a 7.15 ERA, he made quite an impression on scouts, and the buzz on Newcomb was palpable in the offseason.

Over the offseason, Newcomb was rated by Baseball America as the #70 prospect in all of baseball and MLB.com ranked him the #67 prospect in all of baseball. John Sickels of minorleagueball.com rated Newcomb as a B+/B prospect, citing his low mileage on his arm due to being a “cold weather” pitcher being something that could be a definite benefit to him going forward.

The Angels started Newcomb back in Burlington to start 2015, and hitters there were much more perplexed with his offerings than they were at the end of 2014 as he sported a 1.83 ERA and struck out over 11 batters per 9 innings over 7 starts at that level. He was moved up to high-A Inland Empire in the notoriously hitter-friendly California League, but it didn’t phase his performance as he racked up a 2.47 ERA over 13 starts still striking out over 11 per nine innings. The Angels rewarded his performance with a late-season promotion to AA Arkansas in the Texas League. Newcomb found the sledding a bit more difficult at Arkansas, but he still posted a 2.75 ERA in 7 starts and struck out just short of 10 batters per nine innings. All told in 2015 across three levels, he posted a 2.38 ERA in 27 starts and 136 innings pitched. In those innings, he struck out 168 batters, but he also walked 76.

Next: Newcomb's scouting report