Atlanta Braves: Newcomb Looks Sharp, Dansby Looks Ready to Breakout

In the final Spring Training game of 2019, the Atlanta Braves saw a good Sean Newcomb and a Dansby Swanson ready to have a breakout season.

The last Spring Training game can be pretty tedious and meaningless for a lot of players. But for young Atlanta Braves players like Sean Newcomb and Dansby Swanson, they needed to end Spring Training feeling good about themselves.

Newcomb seemed ready to become the number two in the rotation this year behind Mike Foltynewicz after posting a 3.90 ERA in 30 starts and 164 innings with 160 strikeouts.

However, there have been times this Spring where you wondered if he would even make the Opening Day rotation.

Before Tuesday’s outing, he had a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings with 9 strikeouts, while allowing 14 hits and 15 walks.

The free passes are obviously a huge concern, and will always be for Newcomb until he proves he can command his pitches consistently.

He was able to do that against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday as he didn’t walk a single batter in four hittings, while giving up just three hits with five strikeouts.

Granted, the Reds didn’t send out their A lineup on Tuesday, but Newcomb was still able to command the strike zone with his pitches.

You have to think that he, and the Braves, are feeling a little bit better about Newcomb entering the season now.

Dansby Showing Signs of Breaking Out

For the second straight game, Dansby Swanson hit a home run to the opposite field. The one on Tuesday had me jumping out of my seat as it was a long shot over the right-center field fence.

https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1110609588661960704

The 25-year-old shortstop has swung the bat well all Spring, and if he continues to take that opposite field approach into the season, we could be looking at a very different hitter than we’ve seen the past two years.

I’ve made my feelings known about Dansby on here before, but I wish more than anything he has a breakout year in 2019.

You always have to use caution with Spring Training results, but man he has looked good (in the few games the Atlanta Braves were actually on TV).

Tuesday was the last game for the Atlanta Braves before taking on the Philadelphia Phillies on Opening Day. Check back with Tomahawk Take throughout the season as we continue to bring you news and opinions on our beloved Atlanta Braves.