Atlanta Braves: Looking at the projections for Sean Newcomb in 2019
2019 could prove to be a make-or-break season for Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb. A variety of projections might provide an indication for what we can expect to see from the left-hander.
Sean Newcomb is looking to make the jump in his big-league career from “young guy still trying to figure things out” to “legitimate upper rotation arm”. The Atlanta Braves would certainly reap the benefits of having “Newk” show that kind of growth in his third season, but will it happen?
For the optimist, the first thought that comes to mind when seeing the name “Sean Newcomb” would be that marvelous July afternoon when he came this close to no-hitting one of the most potent lineups in the National League.
They’d tell you it’s proof that the kid has the stuff to be the real deal. They would probably remind you that at the All-Star break in July, Newcomb had a 3.51 ERA and a tolerable 1.27 WHIP.
For the realist? They’d probably remind you that Newcomb is still just 25 years old and trying to find his way in this level of baseball. They’d tell you of the usual ebbs and flows that a pitcher his age likely experiences in his development.
For the pessimist? It’s likely they’d focus on something that has plagued Newcomb dating back to his minor league years: bases on balls.
Walkabout
Oh, those walks. It’s been brutal for Newcomb regarding the free pass. His 5.13 BB/9 (walks per nine innings) in 2017 did slightly improve to 4.45 in 2018, but that is still entirely too high to live comfortably in this league.
Spring training results haven’t restored belief, as Newk has walked an incredulous 7.94 batters per nine innings this preseason.
So where does the truth lie about what kind of 2019 we can expect from the 6’5″ southpaw? Is he set to elevate his career to the next level, similarly to how his rotation-mate Mike Foltynewicz did in 2018? Or are his warts as a pitcher simply too much to ever fully overcome?
One thing is for certain: with the volume of promising arms knocking at the door of the majors for the Atlanta Braves, 2019 could prove to be highly pivotal in Sean Newcomb’s young career.