Meet Sean Newcomb, the Red Sox surprise number 5 starter.

[Cameron Tran]

Unlike the last few seasons, rotational depth coming into this spring was seen as a strongish point on the Red Sox roster. Now, with opening day just a few days away, that rotational depth is being tested. 3 of the 6 starters anticipated to make the opening day roster will begin the season on the IL. Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito should be up and running at some point in April, with Kutter Crawford a few steps behind them. Patrick Sandoval, whom the Red Sox signed to a 2 year deal this offseason, should be ready sometime this summer as he recovers from a torn UCL. To replace Giolito and Bello, Alex Cora has called on their #14 overall prospect Richard Fitts to take the 4th spot, and a relatively surprising pick in Sean Newcomb to take the fifth spot.

Newcomb, 31, signed to a minor league deal with the Red Sox with pretty far odds of making the opening day roster. A former first round pick, Newcomb had his best years with the Braves early in his career. The lefty out of Brockton spent the first 2 years of his career as a starter, posting a respectable 4.06 ERA in 50 starts across 2017 and 2018. A sky high 4.7 BB/9 and 12% walk rate pushed Newcomb to the bullpen in 2019, where he excelled, pitching to a 3.16 ERA and lowering his walk rate to a more manageable 9.9%. Since then, Newcomb has struggled heavily with injuries, never pitching more than 33 innings in a season since. Newcomb has been very subpar in the 98 innings since 2019, posting a 6.66 ERA and 6.3 BB/9, seemingly undoing the progress he had made in his lone season in the bullpen. 

So far this spring training though, Newcomb has been very impressive. In 14 innings, Newcomb has allowed 2 earned runs, while striking out 13 and walking just 3. The walks are what is impressing most of the Red Sox organization the most, as Newcomb has always had good strikeout stuff but his sub-par command has followed him every step of the way. Newcomb has a fastball that sits in the low 90s, but has seen his fastball usage drop this spring, likely to the suggestion of the Red Sox pitching guru's. To replace it, Andrew Bailey has Newcomb throwing a cutter, a pitch he threw at times in 2021 and 2022 but hasn't thrown since. He's done a good job at keeping the cutters glove side and sinkers arm side. His curveball, his most used secondary across most of his career, hasn't looked as sharp this spring but should be ready to go by opening day. Newcomb has also increased his changeup usage, although he will likely keep that as a back option, as he has done in the past.

If Newcomb, or Fitts, is unable to translate their strong springs into early success in the regular season, it shouldn't be too much of an issue, as neither Bello nor Giolito expect to spend much time on the IL. Bello will begin the season on the 15 day, but expects to throw 4-5 innings in Worcester before potentially joining the Red Sox by the first or second week of April. Giolito has said that he feels "100%", but the Red Sox would rather not risk it and he too will likely open the season on the IL with Bello. On the other had, Crawford looks set to miss a solid chunk of time as he recovers from a nagging knee issue. He has expressed a desire to return at some point in April, but the knee issue is something that will not go away. Crawford revealed that the issue began to pop up in his third start last season, and that at times last year he was "throwing on one leg, essentially." The timetable to Crawford is unclear, but it is likely the Red Sox won't rush him.

[moonslav59]

I'm happy for him.

Have we announced who goes on the 60 Day IL to make room for he and K Campbell?

[mvp 78]

Meat Sean Newcomb

Not sure he's going to last, but will keep my fingers crossed for a local guy.

[moonslav59]

While I often agree that ST'ing does not matter much, tell that to Newcomb.

[Bellhorn04]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

While I often agree that ST'ing does not matter much, tell that to Newcomb.

It doesn't matter for a lot of players, but it matters a lot for some.

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It doesn't matter for a lot of players, but it matters a lot for some.

True. Maybe 20-22 guys know they have a slot, every year. It may affect a starting role vs a bench role, but not much.