BALTIMORE — Only 27 Massachusetts-born pitchers have started a game for Boston in Red Sox franchise history.
Make it 28 pitchers when left-handed starter Sean Newcomb, a Brockton native who graduated from Middleborough High, takes the hill Monday for Boston against the Orioles here at Camden Yards.
It actually has happened just two other times in the past 30 years (per the Red Sox game notes) with New Bedford’s Brian Rose and Milton’s Rich Hill doing it.
“ It’s pretty cool,” manager Alex Cora said before Monday’s series opener. “I read about it throughout camp. And he doesn’t show too much emotion. He’s very quiet, But I bet it is a big day for him, big day for his family. He did an outstanding job throughout camp. Bought into our concept and he’s ready to go.”
The 31-year-old grew up a Red Sox fan. He won the fifth starter job after being a spring training non-roster invitee on a minor league deal. He allowed just two runs, one earned run, in 14 ⅓ innings (0.63 ERA) in Grapefruit League action.
The Angels selected him 15th overall in the 2014 Draft. He posted a 3.91 ERA with 159 strikeouts in 30 starts (163 ⅓ innings) as a 25-year-old in 2018 with the Braves. He recorded a 4.06 ERA in 49 starts over his first two seasons (2017-18).
But he struggled the final couple of months in ‘18 and was moved to the bullpen early in 2019. He enjoyed immediate success with a 3.04 ERA in 51 relief outings that year. He has had off-and-on success since then.
His role as the fifth starter is expected to be temporary. Starters Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are nearing returns from the IL. Bello will make a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester at Jacksonville on Tuesday. Giolito will make a rehab start for the WooSox on Wednesday.
The Red Sox could shift Newcomb to a long relief bullpen once Bello is back. He could stay stretched out and be used as a spot starter in the scenario.
Newcomb said the Red Sox pitching department and coaches have gotten him confident in the shapes of his offspeed pitches.
“They got my cutter working a little bit more,” Newcomb said during spring training. “More of a little bit of a down angle vs. the more up cutter I had before. And then taking my big slider and making it more of the quote-unquote sweeper that people throw a lot nowadays. And those are both easier just to control in the zone. And then that mixed with the good fastball I’ve always had. And the curveball has been clicking, too.”
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