Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on LHP Sean Newcomb

Sean Newcomb took big strides doing what the Atlanta Braves coaching asked of him in 2016. What should we expect in 2017 from him?

Player Profile

The Atlanta Braves originally acquired Newcomb as the key prospect in return for slick-fielding shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

Newcomb graduated from high school in Massachusetts and went to college at the University of Hartford without being drafted out of high school. However, his profile had escalated such in his collegiate time that he was the 15th overall selection in the 2014 draft.

The Angels started Newcomb out with their Arizona Rookie League team, and he made two starts there before moving up to their low-A team in the Midwest League for four starts, which did not go so well.

Combined, he made 6 starts in 2014, threw 14 1/3 innings (after almost 100 in college that spring), finishing with a 6.28 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 6/18 BB/K ratio. He did get some prospect note, being rated as the #70 prospect by Baseball America and the #67 prospect by MLB.com.

Newcomb opened the 2015 season with Burlington in the Midwest League, and after dominating there for 7 starts, he earned a promotion to high-A in the Cal League, which also went well, sending him to AA in the Texas League to close out the season.

Combined on the year, he made 27 starts, throwing 136 innings with a 2.38 combined ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 76/168 BB/K ratio. He jumped up rating systems, ranking #24 by Baseball America, #21 by MLB.com, and #32 by Baseball Prospectus.

The Atlanta Braves acquired Newcomb along with Erick Aybar and Chris Ellis in exchange for Simmons and catcher Jose Briceno in the 2015-2016 offseason.

Newcomb and Braves staff set to work on his mechanics and approach on the mound, hoping to improve his ability to go deep into games and to also improve his command. He took each change one at a time, and it was notable in his results.

Newcomb spent the entire season at AA Mississippi, posting overall numbers of 27 starts, 140 innings, 3.86 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 71/152 BB/K ratio.

When you break down his season, you can really see in his numbers what was evident on the field in watching him.

The Braves let him open with “his stuff”, and after three starts, they started making changes to his mechanics. At that point, the ERA number was pretty, but the underlying numbers showed what they wanted to change. He had gone exactly 5 innings in each outing, so he posted 15 total innings, allowing a 2.40 ERA, but also posting a 10/16 BB/K ratio.

The first game where his new mechanics really started to click consistently for the entire game was May 27th. In between, he had a run of 6 starts, where he threw 31 innings, posting a 4.65 ERA and a 19/30 BB/K ratio.

The team really allowed him to pitch through June with his new mechanics feeling right, and he opened July working with a new approach. Those 6 starts covered 32 2/3 innings, with a 3.58 ERA, and notably a 10/32 BB/K ratio.

That new approach in July led to a rough patch as he changed how he approached batters in every at bat, and the first game that he seemed visibly comfortable on the mound was his last start in July, on the 30th against Birmingham.

In the starts in the meantime, he made 5 starts, throwing 21 2/3 innings with a 7.48 ERA and a 18/21 BB/K ratio. Most notably, he allowed just four home runs on the entire season, and he allowed 2 of them in those 5 starts.

Now comfortable in his new mechanics and his new approach, Newcomb ended the season on a tear, making 7 starts, throwing 39 2/3 innings with a 2.04 ERA, and a 14/51 BB/K ratio. He allowed a .174 opponents’ batting average, with a quite-normal .266 BABIP as well, showing just how well his approach and movement were working against hitters.

Next: Newcomb's scouting report