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Atlanta Braves call-up LHP Sean Newcomb – Who and why is he starting Saturday?

By Jeff Schafer

Mar 3, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (78) throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (78) throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Braves Promote Top Prospect Left-Handed Pitcher Newcomb To Start Saturday

Sean Newcomb‘s birthday is June 12 — he will make his major league debut with the Atlanta Braves two days prior to his 24th birthday.

After the Braves placed starting pitcher Bartolo Colon on the disabled list, the speculation began on who will pitch in Colon’s rotation spot.  Many names were thrown around (on social media), but news broke early Wednesday that it will be Newcomb getting the ball for one of the games.

The Braves play the New York Mets on Saturday in a doubleheader with the first game starting at 1:00pm ET and the second at 6:00pm ET.  Newcomb will get the ball for one of these games…not sure which one yet.

I, along with probably hundreds of others, were refreshing the Gwinnett Braves and Twitter this morning.  Why?  Because Newcomb was scheduled to pitch for the GBraves today at 12:00pm.  We all knew if he was scratched from this start, it’s extremely likely he will be our starting pitcher on Saturday.

Well, about an hour and a half before the game started Gwinnett changed their starting pitcher on their website.

Who Is Sean Newcomb?

While attending high school at Middleboro High, he was a three-sport athlete – baseball, basketball, and football.  During his senior year on the mound, he posted at 0.46 ERA, 9-0 record, three saves and 110 strikeouts in 58 innings.

The Los Angeles Angels drafted Newcomb from the University of Hartford (Connecticut) with the 15th pick in the 1st round of the 2014 MLB draft.  After signing with the Angeles, he was able to start six games that year.

Heading into the 2015 season, Newcomb was rated the number 70th prospect by Baseball America and the number 67th prospect by MLB.com.  In 2015, he didn’t disappoint  – he started 27 games and posted a 2.38 ERA while pitching in three different Angels affiliates (Single-A, Double-A, Triple-A) and had a record of 9-3.  He captured 168 strikeouts in the 136 innings he pitched compared to only 76 walks.

The Braves acquired Newcomb on November 12, 2015 when they traded Andrelton Simmons to the Angels for Newcomb, Chris Ellis and Erick Aybar.

His 2016 Season with the Braves

The Braves, MLB and it seems like all prospect lists were very high on Newcomb going into the 2016 season.  He ranked 24th on Baseball American’s top 100 prospects and 21st on MLB.com’s list.

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He was invited to the Braves Spring Training and was able to appear in two games.  He didn’t have his best outings during that ST, but folks got a decent look at what he could become.

The entire 2016 season, Newcomb was with the Double-A Mississippi Braves.  He went 8-7 on the year with a 3.86 ERA in 27 starts.  In 140 innings pitched, he totaled 152 strikeouts and 71 walks.

The walks issue has been his Achilles heel for the majority of his career.

His 2017 Season with the Braves

Newcomb’s prospect rankings dropped a bit heading into the 2017 season — #78 on Baseball American, #80 on MLB.com, #44 on Baseball Prospectus and #4 on the Braves list.  A number of walks most likely played an issue here.

He once again got an invite to ST in 2017 and appeared in two games.  He pitched three innings, gave up seven hits and four runs.  The positive was no walks and five strikeouts.  Newcomb was reassigned early in ST and sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.

The 23-year-old has had a good start to his 2017 campaign.  He has posted a 3-3 record with a 2.97 ERA with Gwinnett.  In 11 starts, he has 74 strikeouts and 33 walks.

If he can somehow cut down on those walks, he’s going to be something special.  Maybe Atlanta’s coaches can help him out here.  He’s had at least two walks in all of his starts, but one outing.  Four walks in three games and six in one game.

Next: Don’t judge Braves GM John Coppolella on Bartolo’s demise

Projections and His Future

Newcomb has a fastball that usually is around 92-94 and has topped out at 97.  He has the sneaky ability with his fastball that has a late lift and appears to arrive quicker to the batters eye.  He has an 11-5 curveball and an above average slider.  Also in his arsenal is a changeup that has good action and sits around the mid-80’s.

I’m extremely high on this lefty as I ranked him number one on my prospect list.  The 6’5”, the 245-pound hard thrower should raise some eyebrows very soon and hopefully this isn’t a one-off start.

Many scouts believe he has a ceiling of a Jon Lester and a floor of Scott Kazmir.  That sounds like a pretty solid future ahead of him!!

Newcomb is not on the Braves 40-man roster but will be added very soon.  The Braves do have room for him as they currently have only 38 players — Newcomb will make the 39th player.

Saturday Starters Against The Mets

Newcomb will get the ball for one of the games and Matt Wisler will get the other game.

Wisler will be added to the Braves roster as the 26th man.  The Braves are able to do this because of the doubleheader.  Wisler was just sent down to Gwinnett on June 2nd, but because of the doubleheader, the 10-day rule does not apply.

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