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By Jon Vankin
Contributing Sports Writer
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What appeared to be one of the strongest starting rotations in MLB heading into the season has been thrown into uncertainty as the Boston Red Sox are now coping with injuries to not just one but three starting pitchers. Fortunately for the Red Sox, whose starting staff was six-deep at one point, a five-man rotation now needs only two fill-in pitchers.
Earlier this week, manager Alex Cora said one of those two spots may be filled by a former first-round draft pick who also happens to be a product of the Greater Boston area. Sean Newcomb, a 31-year-old southpaw, was signed to a minor league contract by the Red Sox ahead of spring training after two seasons with the Athletics — then still in Oakland.
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Newcomb was limited to just 25 innings over those two seasons as he struggled with control, issuing 17 walks in his time there. His best season came in 2019. Pitching primarily out of the bullpen for the Atlanta Braves, he posted a 3.16 ERA in 68 1/3 innings.
Newcomb was looked upon as one of baseball's most promising prospects when he was drafted 15th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in 2015, out of Hartford, one of only four big leaguers ever to come out of that university. Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, Newcomb played baseball at Middleborough High School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, a town of about 25,000 people, located just over an hour south of Fenway Park.
More MLB: Red Sox Could Make Shocking Decision To Make Room For Two Star Prospects
Cora on Monday said that based on his spring training performance — an 0.93 ERA with 10 strikeouts and just three walks in 9 2/3 innings over four games (including three starts) — the locally-grown left-hander is "in the hunt" for one of the two open rotation roles, according to MassLive reporter Christopher Smith.
Newcomb, however, is competing with three other hurlers for the two spots, Cora said, quoted by Luke Graham of the 98.5 The Sports Hub website.
Those other three are Richard Fitts, acquired last year from the New York Yankees in a trade that sent Alex Verdugo to the Bronx; Quinn Priester, picked up in a 2024 deadline deal that sent first base prospect Nick Yorke to the Pittsburgh Pirates; and four-year veteran Cooper Criswell, who may have an advantage having started 18 games for Boston last year and appeared in eight more out of the bullpen with a respectable 4.08 ERA.
"They're all throwing the ball well," Cora said, as quoted by The Boston Globe reporter Peter Abraham on Saturday. "We'll make a decision, probably in the upcoming days."
The Red Sox injured starters are Brayan Bello (shoulder soreness), Kutter Crawford (patella tendinosis, a knee injury), and Lucas Giolito (hamstring). None of the three have set timelines to return to the rotation, but their injuries are not considered serious.
More MLB: Red Sox Sign Boston-Area Pitcher, Former First-Round Draft Pick for Bullpen Help
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