Mass. native Sean Newcomb in pole position to be Red Sox’ 5th starter after roster move
Newcomb was born in Brockton and attended Middleborough High School.
When Sean Newcomb joined the Red Sox on a minor league deal in January, it would’ve been tough to envision him in the team’s starting rotation to open the year. However, it appears that scenario will play out.
Right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester was optioned to Red Sox minor league camp, the team announced Sunday. Priester was Newcomb’s main competition for the fifth starter spot, presumably making the 31-year-old left-hander the final piece to Boston’s rotation to open the season.
For Newcomb, his possible inclusion in the Red Sox’ rotation will serve as a homecoming and likely a childhood dream fulfilled. He was born in Brockton and attended Middleborough High School, where he starred before spending his college years at the University of Hartford. Newcomb has previously said that the Red Sox were his favorite team as a kid.
As three Red Sox starting pitchers (Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito) suffered injuries in camp, Newcomb positioned himself in a group of pitchers to earn one of the two starter spots behind Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, and Walker Buehler. The lefty has been lights out on the mound this spring, giving up just one earned run (0.63 ERA) with a 0.84 WHIP and 13 strikeouts. He’s pitched 14 1/3 innings over five appearances.
The Red Sox named Richard Fitts their No. 4 starter on Friday. When Red Sox manager Alex Cora made that announcement, he seemed to hint that Newcomb was the favorite to get the No. 5 spot as they’ll be taking on the lefty-heavy Orioles that day. Cora also indicated that whoever gets that spot might not have it for long as Bello (shoulder) and Giolito (hamstring) are expected to return sometime in April.
“We feel comfortable because we know Brayan is trending in the right direction,” Cora told reporters. “Gio looks like he’ll be OK. This is not for a month, a month and a half. [It’s for] maybe two, three outings.”
Even if Newcomb is only in the Red Sox’ rotation for a couple of starts, his potential inclusion would mark a pretty big turnaround in his career. A first-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, Newcomb got off to a promising start to his career. He recorded a 3.87 ERA over his first three years with the Braves, but he began to struggle in 2020, when he became a full-time reliever. Atlanta eventually designated him for assignment in April 2022.
Newcomb dealt with an ankle ailment and other injuries after the Braves moved on from him, bouncing between the majors and minors as he spent time with the Cubs, Giants, and A’s over the last few years.
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