Top prospect Sean Newcomb was effective early in his Braves debut with strikes on five of his first nine pitches against the Tigers. Then two-time AL MVP Miguel Cabrera came to the plate and suddenly Newcomb’s control issues resurfaced.
The left-hander threw just 11 strikes among his 31 pitches during a Grapefruit League exhibition game against the Tigers on Thursday. The Tigers touched Newcomb for two hits and three earned runs with four walks in one-plus inning.
In explaining his control problems Newcomb cited nervousness about his debut and some mechanical issues.
“It’s spring training, first time out there,” he said. “It wasn’t supposed to go perfect and it didn’t. I’m not going to take it too seriously or think about it too much. Just move forward.”
The Braves acquired Newcomb from the Angels as part of their haul from the Andrelton Simmons trade in November. Baseball America rates Newcomb, 22, as the top-rated pitching prospect in the Braves’ system while touting his large build (6-5, 245), mid-90s fastball and exceptional change-up.
But Newcomb experienced command issues during rookie league ball and also when he moved up to Double-A in 2015. With just 36 innings pitched above the high-A level, Newcomb needs more seasoning before he’s ready for the majors.
He got a taste of the big leagues against the Tigers, who had regulars Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez in the lineup. Kinsler led off with a ground out but the next four hitters reached base.
After Anthony Gose’s one-out single, Newcomb walked Cabrera on four pitches.
“It’s definitely different seeing him but that’s what I’m going to have to be dealing with,” Newcomb said. “I’ve got to get used to it.”
Martinez followed Cabrera’s walk with a ground ball that got through the infield for an RBI and Newcomb walked Tyler Collins to load the bases. Casey McGehee hit a sharp line out at left fielder Hector Olivera to score Cabrera. Jarrod Saltalamacchia flied out just short of the warning track in left-center to end the inning.
Newcomb walked John Mayberry Jr. on four pitches to lead off the second inning and threw just one strike while walking Andrew Romine. That prompted Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez to pull Newcomb in favor of Chris Volstad.
