The Red Sox have some open rotation opportunities and one surprising name is emerging as a candidate. Manager Álex Cora tells Christopher Smith of MassLive that left-hander Sean Newcomb is “in the hunt” for a starting gig to begin the season.
Since camp opened, the Sox have lost three rotation options to injuries. Each of Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are slated to start the season on the injured list. Crawford has right knee soreness, Bello right shoulder soreness and Giolito left hamstring tightness. That leaves the Sox with Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler in three spots, but with two openings to start the season. They could go with guys already on the roster, such as Quinn Priester, Richard Fitts or Cooper Criswell, but it seems there’s also a chance they with Newcomb, who is in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Newcomb, 32 in June, was once a viable big league starter. He tossed 264 innings for Atlanta in 2017 and 2018, starting 49 of his 50 appearances. In that time, he had a 4.06 earned run average. His 12% walk rate was on the high side but he struck out 23.3% of opponents and got grounders at a 43.6% clip.
Since then, his results have backed up. His control problems worsened, which has pushed him into spending more time in the bullpen, but without improved results. From 2019 to the present, he has 167 big league innings pitched with a 5.23 ERA and 13% walk rate. But in camp thus far, he has tossed 9 2/3 innings over four appearances with a 0.93 ERA, 27% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate. That led him to settle for a minor league deal with Boston this winter.
There’s no real urgency to select Newcomb’s contract, with Smith relaying that the lefty does not have an opt-out in his minor league deal. But each of Crawford, Bello and Giolito could return fairly early in the season, so the Sox might need him now more than they will as the season progresses.
Still, the Massachusetts native might end up going to Triple-A Worcester if the Sox go with guys like Priester or Fitts to start the year, but he’s okay with that. “If it means going there to stay ready type of thing, that’s fine,” he tells Smith. “It’s in Mass. So I’ll be able to be home either way. That’s kind of a plus. But obviously the goal is to be up there.”
The Sox also have to make a decision about second base, as they have no defined starter there. Per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Cora said the spot is a competition between David Hamilton, Vaughn Grissom and Kristian Campbell, with Cora speaking fondly of Hamilton and his athleticism. Hamilton has hit just .235/.298/.373 in his career thus far but has 35 steals in 40 attempts.
Campbell is well known as one of the top prospects in the league. He is only 22 years old, turning 23 in June, and has only 19 Triple-A games under his belt. Cracking the big leagues is certainly feasible but sending him back to Worcester for more reps is also justifiable. He came into today with a line of .152/.263/.182 in spring, not exactly kicking the door down. He did go 1-3 with a walk today, but also struck out twice.
Smith wrote about today’s performance, noting that Campbell made several impressive defensive plays. That had previously been an issue, with few balls hit to him so far this spring, making it hard for decision makers to evaluate his glovework. “It feels like he’s getting comfortable. Put a good swing and then the walk,” Cora said of Campbell’s performance today. “That was good. But I think defensively, today was the first day I was able to see it. We talk about it, too. And (he) got a few chances. Even late in the game, it’s 12-3 or whatever it was. And he made two nice plays. That tells you who he is and the defender he is.”
The Sox open the season on Thursday next week against the Rangers in Arlington. That gives them about a week to make their final roster decisions. Neither Newcomb nor Campbell are on the 40-man roster, so corresponding moves would be required if they make the cut.
Newcomb starting? What year is it again?
How’s Grissom looking?
Not sure how he’s been defensively, but really struggles at the plate.
Any chance that Bregman would get moved there by mid May?
Essentially no chance at this point.
You’re more likely to see Mayer take SS and Story slide to 2B than you are to see Bregman jump to 2B at this point.
My guess is they’re happy to roll with hamilton/Gonzalez in tandem until one of the IF kids force the issue out of AAA
GA, just give the job to Campbell if/when the team believes he’s ready and until then, the combo you mentioned is fine. Let Campbell play though once he’s brought up. Have patience. Remember Pedie was under .200 his rookie season in April.
It’s just staggering to me that there are still Sox’ fans holding onto the notion that Rafael Devers, the Michael Jackson of 2025 baseball, could/should/might be positioned at third, with his reigning Gold Glover teammate “sliding over” to second.
By all outward indications, Devers seems like a decent guy, maybe not the most engaged teammate, but jeez, if there is ONE thing a simple eye test can confirm, he’s a god-awful defensive liability. It’s not for a lack of effort – he has no natural talent or feel for the position, and he’s been playing there long enough for rational observers to conclude that he’s not developing latent talent.
Ownership spent $120m to sign one of the slickest, most surehanded third baseman in the majors today – but why improve your overall team defense by playing him at his natural position – heck, maybe he can catch.
Someone please explain why the Red Sox will be a better team with Devers at third, and Bregman playing an unfamiliar position.
Oh yeah, the Michael Jackson thing. Old joke. What did Michael Jackson and Rafael Devers have in common? They both wore a glove on their left hand, for no apparent reason.
Almost a carbon copy of Campbell at the plate this spring. Both are likely to end up in AAA with Hamilton getting the opening day nod.
At least 2 of the 3 are likely to make the team as they need more than just the starting 9. They need backups as well and all of them can’t be just OFers.
Ignorant, to me Grissom has looked crappy in the field.
So many bobbled plays, and they don’t give out an error, but rather a base hit. He’s not steady with the glove and his footwork still seems to be lacking at second.
I’ve shaken my head and proclaimed “he’s done” out loud for everyone to hear too many times.
I’m all for Hamilton starting the year at second and then maybe Campbell will be ready after a few months of AAA?
Why rush up kcamp? Give hamilton a month, if he sucks, promote camp & preserve his service time
The RedSox have to be strongly considering all three rookies, due to the PPI rules of MLB. Basically, if a top 100 prospect is active 172 of 180 days & then wins rookie of the year or finishes top 3 in MVP or CY in first three years, the team is rewarded an extra draft pick.
It’s great to see decent depth. Another LH starter would be great. Newcomb needs to have a couple more good starts and force them to put him at 4-5 in the rotation.
I’d say Ham has “won” the job, but only because neither Campbell nor Grissom did enough to win it. He’s a fine #8 hitter who can steal some bases.
swanhenge: Pitchers are traditionally ahead of hitters in spring training, so don’t hold your breath for Newcomb.
Neither Campbell or Grissom a should open the season with the big club. Let Hamilton and Gonzalez platoon at 2B til either one of the kids emerge from AAA or Bregman slides over
red sox might be relieved campbell isn’t forcing the issue this spring. hamilton is perfectly cromulent so they can give campbell some more reps at AAA
@dasit
Very impressed and pleased with your use of “cromulent”. A very underutilized word.
Somebody’s showing off their word of the day calendar
Agreed. I believe the Red Sox are stressing competition in spring training and Hamilton and Gonzalez are performing the best so far.
And Romy is the only one with 1B experience.
Hamiltons speed is a game changer
Cora said today was the first,time he saw Campbell play second base. That tells you Cora was hearing from his team that Campbell looks great but isn’t ready. Campbell needs to show he can do the routine plays consistently; he hasn’t had enough reps.
June call up would be possible, but I think they want to see how he does over half a season. Hamilton is pretty good too, so there’s no need to rush Campbell.
I’m sorry Darragh, but the way you use “guys like” in articles just shouldn’t be there. I was told in middle school to not use phrases like that in writing. It takes away from your writing
Just go with whoever is hottest this spring and try to get them to deliver for another month. Then the red sox will have guys coming off the IL and prospects in Worcester who will probably be better adjusted by then. No need to force Campbell to immediately take over at second. And if any of those back of the rotation options are struggling now there’s no reason to put them out there. None of them are that great. You’d expect a 5.00 ERA from any of them.