Sean William Newcomb Bio
Sean William Newcomb is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball. He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Boston Red Sox. Newcomb played college baseball at the University of Hartford and was selected in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2015, for whom he made his major league debut in 2017.
Early Life and Background
Sean William Newcomb was born on June 12, 1993, in Middleborough, Massachusetts. He attended Middleborough High School, where as a senior he posted a 0.46 earned run average and recorded 110 strikeouts in 58 innings, marking him as one of the region’s standout high school pitchers.
After high school, Newcomb enrolled at the University of Hartford and pitched for the Hartford Hawks. He recorded his first collegiate victory as a no-hitter against Yale and compiled a breakout junior season in 2014, finishing 8–2 with a 1.25 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings. Newcomb was named the 2014 America East Pitcher of the Year, the first Hartford player to win a major conference award.
Path to Baseball
Newcomb entered professional baseball as a highly regarded prospect in the 2014 MLB draft. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected him in the first round, 15th overall, and he signed for a reported $2,518,000 signing bonus. He began his professional career with assignments to Single-A Burlington and later to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, finishing his initial full professional season with a combined 2.38 ERA and ranking among minor-league leaders with 168 strikeouts.
On November 12, 2015, the Angels traded Newcomb, Erick Aybar, Chris Ellis, and cash considerations to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Andrelton Simmons and José Briceño. The Braves placed Newcomb on a development path through their minor-league system, including innings with the Double-A Mississippi Braves and Triple-A Gwinnett, before promoting him to the major leagues in 2017.
Sean William Newcomb Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Newcomb made his major league debut on June 10, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park against the New York Mets. In that outing he worked 6 1/3 innings, allowed four hits and one unearned run, and struck out seven batters. He finished his rookie campaign with a 4–9 record and a 4.32 ERA as he adjusted to big-league hitters.
In 2018 Newcomb established himself as a prominent member of the Braves rotation. He posted a 3.91 ERA for the season and delivered one of his most notable starts on July 29, 2018, when he carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers, ultimately yielding a single with two outs in the ninth while the Braves won the game 4–1.
Atlanta Braves Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Newcomb began the 2019 season as part of the Braves rotation and started the franchise’s first regular-season game at SunTrust Park. He experienced periods of inconsistency that led to demotions to Triple-A Gwinnett and multiple role changes, including relief appearances. In 2020 Newcomb struggled in limited action, and the following seasons saw him transition more frequently between the rotation and bullpen.
During the 2021 season Newcomb moved into a relief role for the Braves, appearing in 32 games with a 4.73 ERA and striking out 43 batters in 32 1/3 innings. He was on the Atlanta roster during the Braves’ 2021 season when the club captured the World Series title, giving Atlanta its first championship since 1995.
Chicago Cubs and Minor-League Stints (2022–2023)
On April 20, 2022, Newcomb was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Jesse Chavez and cash considerations. His time with the Cubs included stints on the injured list and multiple transactions between the major-league roster and Triple-A Iowa, and he elected free agency following the 2022 season after clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A.
In early 2023 Newcomb signed a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants organization and pitched in both Single-A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento, registering solid numbers across those stops before returning to open opportunities with other organizations later that year.
Oakland Athletics Era (2023–2024)
On August 22, 2023, the Atlanta organization trade history continued when Newcomb was traded to the Oakland Athletics. Oakland selected his contract the next day and added him to the major-league roster. He posted a 3.00 ERA in seven appearances for the Athletics before a sprained left knee led to meniscus surgery that ended his 2023 season.
Oakland signed Newcomb to a one-year extension on November 2, 2023. He began the 2024 season on the 60-day injured list as he recovered from offseason knee surgery and was activated on June 4, 2024. On June 21, 2024, Newcomb recorded a rare victory without officially facing a batter, picking off a runner to end an inning before his team later took the lead and won the game, marking the first such instance in Athletics history.
Boston Red Sox and 2025 Transactions
Newcomb signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox on January 14, 2025, and made the Opening Day roster when the team selected his contract on March 27. He began the year as a fifth starter amid rotation injuries and moved to a long-relief role as the rotation returned to health. In 11 appearances (five starts) for Boston he posted a 0–4 record and a 3.83 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 40 innings before being designated for assignment on May 24, 2025.
Chicago White Sox Era (2026–Present)
On December 23, 2025, Newcomb signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. That agreement established his current team affiliation heading into the 2026 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Newcomb has demonstrated a consistent ability to miss bats throughout his career, evidenced by high strikeout totals in college, the minor leagues, and the major leagues. His professional record shows the capacity to work as both a starter and a reliever, giving teams flexibility in roster usage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Career highlights include carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 29, 2018, making his major league debut with a seven-strikeout outing on June 10, 2017, and becoming the first pitcher in Oakland Athletics history to earn a win without officially facing a batter on June 21, 2024. He was also part of the Atlanta Braves organization during their 2021 World Series season.
Sean William Newcomb Career Wins
Through June 23, 2026, Newcomb’s major-league record stands at 30–31 with a 4.05 earned run average and 575 career strikeouts, reflecting work across starting and relief roles with multiple clubs.
Atlanta Braves Highlights
Newcomb’s most prominent early-career moments came with the Atlanta Braves, where he debuted in 2017 and produced the near no-hitter performance in 2018. He compiled the bulk of his early major-league starts with Atlanta and transitioned into high-leverage relief work with the club in later seasons.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Prior to the majors, Newcomb’s noteworthy achievements include a collegiate no-hitter against Yale, earning the 2014 America East Pitcher of the Year award, and finishing second in minor-league strikeouts in 2014 with 168 across levels. Those performances established his reputation as a high-strikeout pitcher entering professional baseball.
Sean William Newcomb Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sean Newcomb was born and raised in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Public records in the supplied materials do not provide detailed information on his parents or extended family lineage.
Personal Life
Newcomb was a fan of the Boston Red Sox growing up, a personal detail he has acknowledged publicly. Other personal information such as marital status and children is not provided in the verified sources used for this profile.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition and resurgence for Newcomb. He signed with the Boston Red Sox in January and opened the year as a fifth starter before moving to long relief as the rotation healed. In 11 appearances (five starts) with Boston he posted a 0–4 record and a 3.83 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 40 innings before being designated for assignment in late May.
Two days after his designation by Boston, Newcomb was traded to the Oakland Athletics on May 27, 2025. With Oakland he experienced a strong return to form, making 36 appearances and recording a 2–1 record with a 1.75 ERA, 50 strikeouts and two saves in 51 1/3 innings. His 2025 season ended on September 20 when he was placed on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation.