It’s arduous for it to not cross Sean Newcomb’s thoughts.
He dreamed about it as a child rising up in Middleboro, Mass., about 40 miles south of Fenway Park. And it moved to the forefront of his thoughts this offseason as Newcomb looked for his subsequent MLB residence.
And in practically three weeks, Newcomb will dwell out what he merely might solely visualize for a few years. He’s placed on three different big-league uniforms in his profession, however seeing himself in a Boston Crimson Sox jersey and cap will really feel totally different.
“I’ve thought of it a number of instances. Simply placing on the ‘B’ hat goes to be fairly particular,” Newcomb informed NESN.com. “I really feel like being from New England and for us rising up, everybody had a Sox hat, normally with some sweat stains and all that stuff. It’s simply sort of cool to have issues like that come full circle.”
Newcomb made a “push” to signal with the Crimson Sox this offseason and issues got here to fruition for the 31-year-old left-handed pitcher final week. He agreed to a minor-league contract with Boston and obtained a non-roster invite to spring coaching.
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He’s a longshot to make the Crimson Sox Opening Day roster out of spring coaching and almost definitely will start the season with Triple-A Worcester. However the odds being in opposition to Newcomb received’t cease him from battling it out with Boston’s different less-cemented lefty relievers –Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy, Zach Penrod — and fellow non-roster invitees for a spot with the Crimson Sox.
“You bought to sort of have all prospects in your thoughts. However I’m coming in able to make a staff,” Newcomb mentioned. “However simply feeling nearly as good as ever, (which) individuals all the time say. Simply able to go in recent and begin competing. Then there’s the opposite half, the place it’s a must to go in and do your day-to-day as a result of there’s lots of uncontrollables within the sport. So, you bought to simply keep in mind that and simply know you bought to do what you are able to do daily to remain prepared and get higher. Undoubtedly slightly combination of each. However I’d say far more on the aspect of coming in to take a spot.”
There was a time in Newcomb’s profession the place he didn’t have to fret about incomes a roster spot on a big-league staff.
He was drafted fifteenth total by the Los Angeles Angels in 2014 and rose to be the highest pitching prospect within the Braves group after being traded to Atlanta. The College of Hartford product made his mark with the Braves, particularly in 2018 when he made 30 begins and received 12 video games. A type of begins noticed Newcomb come inside one strike of throwing a no-hitter.
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Atlanta’s proficient pitching workers necessitated a transfer to the bullpen for Newcomb the next season. He carried out properly in his new function by posting a 3.16 ERA to go together with 65 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings. However management points, which performed a component in him going from a starter to a reliever, hampered Newcomb as soon as once more.
Newcomb struggled to regain his kind in his ultimate two-plus seasons with the Braves and frolicked shuttling back-and-forth between Triple-A and Atlanta. The Braves determined to maneuver on from Newcomb through the center of the 2022 season after they traded him to the Chicago Cubs.
Newcomb’s time with the Cubs didn’t go properly. He walked 15 batters and allowed 23 runs in 22 2/3 innings earlier than departing in free company. No main league provides got here that offseason and Newcomb ended up signing a minor-league take care of the San Francisco Giants. He spent 5 months within the Giants group and by no means made an look within the majors for San Francisco earlier than being traded to the Oakland Athletics.
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It was in Oakland that Newcomb rediscovered slightly little bit of what made him profitable. He tossed simply 15 innings for the Athletics on the tail finish of the 2023 season, however flourished by hanging out 17 batters and posting a 3.00 ERA. He obtained one other shot with the Athletics final season, however present process offseason meniscus surgical procedure on each his knees derailed his marketing campaign and his ineffectiveness on the mound led to him being designated for task in July.
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The Crimson Sox would be the sixth group Newcomb has been a member of in his profession, and he nonetheless appears like has a lot left within the tank to contribute to a profitable ballclub.
“Now at this level, I’ve seen it from each angle,” Newcomb mentioned. “Prospect to being a starter and arising and having a number of profitable years to bouncing up and down and to now signal a minor league deal to attempt to make a staff. I’ve seen each angle of it. It’s been cool. I’ve realized a ton. At 31 happening 32, nonetheless ft tremendous younger and in a position.”
After the Athletics launched Newcomb, no calls got here for him to affix one other staff and he remained unsigned for the remainder of the season. It represented arguably the bottom second in Newcomb’s skilled profession.
He got here again residence to Massachusetts and targeted on his restoration. He labored with Mike Reinold, a former head athletic coach and bodily therapist with the Crimson Sox, at Champion Bodily Remedy and Efficiency in Waltham, Mass. He obtained to spend time along with his household in the summertime, too, a luxurious not normally afforded to professional baseball gamers.
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The time away from the grind of a baseball season had a optimistic influence on Newcomb. He mentioned there’s a “loopy distinction” in how his physique feels now from the place it was in July.
“Clearly, on paper and all the pieces, it appeared horrible,” Newcomb mentioned of being launched by the A’s. “However I felt effective popping out. I used to be like, ‘Alright, I’ll gear up for subsequent yr, let the knees have a full yr of restoration.’”
A lefty pitcher like Newcomb doesn’t simply develop on bushes. He stands in at an imposing 6-foot-5 and 255 kilos whereas possessing a fastball within the mid-90s. That provides Newcomb one other alternative to orchestrate a profession revival along with his hometown staff.
He’s not targeted on what function he can have with the Crimson Sox — Newcomb has 60 begins and 115 reduction appearances beneath his belt in his profession — however he’s simply seeking to exit onto the mound and carry out properly.
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He’ll look to be taught from essentially the most completed relievers on Boston’s roster and in addition get a serving to hand from Crimson Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey, a relationship Newcomb is wanting ahead to beginning.
“I’m undoubtedly excited to work with him,” Newcomb mentioned. “He’s had some success. I’ve heard lots of guys rave in regards to the stuff he does. Simply having any individual you may absolutely belief and be in your aspect with no matter it’s — pitch form, pitch choice, even simply confidence going out and in of every day as a professional. And he’s a kind of guys that has been by way of it on each side as a participant and coach. It’s simply big. It helps offer you confidence after which as soon as we begin to work collectively, listening to the issues he says, that can construct my confidence.”
Maybe working with Bailey and a homecoming with the Crimson Sox will deliver out the perfect in Newcomb.
Newcomb’s time with the Crimson Sox group, irrespective of how lengthy, will fulfil a lifelong dream. He can bear in mind his first sport at Fenway Park as a child within the late Nineteen Nineties and watching Mo Vaughn play.
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He’ll need to work for the chance to play on that very same diamond and put on the identical Crimson Sox uniform Vaughn did. And as he appears to perform that, Newcomb desires to go alongside the dream he’s dwelling out to his younger son, and simply possibly ideas of enjoying for the Crimson Sox will enter his head similar to they did for Newcomb all these years in the past.
“It simply all the time sort of hits residence for athletes generally, by no means thoughts being a professional and having an opportunity to quote-unquote go residence,” Newcomb mentioned. “For me having my son have an opportunity to look at me play for the Sox could be fairly candy.”
