Sean Newcomb Bio
Sean William Newcomb is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Boston Red Sox. A first-round draft pick out of college, Newcomb has spent parts of nine big-league seasons as both a starter and a reliever.
Born in Massachusetts and raised near the coast south of Boston, Newcomb developed into a highly regarded prospect at the University of Hartford. He has appeared in more than 200 Major League games and earned a World Series ring as part of the 2021 Atlanta Braves championship team.
Early Life and Background
Sean William Newcomb was born on June 12, 1993, in Middleborough, Massachusetts. He grew up in Middleborough and attended Middleborough High School, where he starred on the baseball team. As a senior, he posted a 0.46 earned run average with 110 strikeouts across 58 innings pitched, the kind of performance that quickly drew national scouting attention.
Newcomb grew up as a fan of the Boston Red Sox, following a club whose identity has long been tied to New England baseball culture. After finishing high school, he committed to the University of Hartford, a small college baseball program where he would have a chance to pitch regularly and refine his craft.
Path to Major League Baseball
At the University of Hartford, Newcomb became one of the most decorated pitchers in program history. As a freshman in 2012, he started nine games before a season-ending injury cut his year short, and his first college win came in the form of a no-hitter against Yale. He finished his freshman season 2-4 with a 4.17 ERA and 45 strikeouts across 45 and one-third innings.
Newcomb returned as a sophomore in 2013, going 5-4 with a 3.75 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 72 innings, and he played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He opened his junior season in 2014 by not allowing a run through his first 39 and two-thirds innings, then finished 8-2 with a 1.25 ERA and 106 strikeouts across 93 and one-third innings. He was named the 2014 America East Pitcher of the Year, the first Hartford Hawk ever to win a major conference award.
That junior year pushed Newcomb to the top of draft boards. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected him in the first round, 15th overall, in the 2014 MLB Draft, and he signed for a $2,518,000 bonus. He was assigned to the Single-A Burlington Bees, reached Double-A Arkansas in 2015, and finished his first full professional season with a combined 2.38 ERA and 168 strikeouts across three levels, the second-highest strikeout total in the minor leagues that year.
Sean Newcomb Career
Atlanta Braves (2017–2022)
Newcomb was traded to the Atlanta Braves on November 12, 2015, in the deal that sent Andrelton Simmons to the Angels, and he spent 2016 in Double-A Mississippi, where he posted a 3.86 ERA in the Southern League. After a strong start to 2017 at Triple-A Gwinnett, he was promoted and made his MLB debut on June 10, 2017, against the New York Mets at SunTrust Park, pitching six and one-third innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. He finished his rookie year 4-9 with a 4.32 ERA.
On July 29, 2018, Newcomb took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers before Chris Taylor broke it up with a single, and the Braves won 4-1. He started the Braves’ first game at SunTrust Park in 2019 but was briefly demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett before returning to the rotation. A 2020 season shortened by injury and inconsistency limited him to a 13.2-inning sample with an 11.20 ERA. In 2021, he moved to the bullpen and posted a 4.73 ERA across 32 relief appearances, helping the Braves win the NL East and ultimately the 2021 World Series, the franchise’s first title since 1995. He was designated for assignment in April 2022.
Chicago Cubs (2022)
On April 20, 2022, Newcomb was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Jesse Chavez and cash considerations. After a stint on the injured list with a left ankle sprain, he was activated on June 13, 2022, but allowed five runs in an inning against the New York Yankees and was designated for assignment the same day. He was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, recalled briefly in August, and elected free agency on October 6, 2022.
San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics (2023–2024)
On February 6, 2023, Newcomb signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants and pitched to a 3.15 ERA in 20 appearances across High-A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento. On August 22, 2023, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Trenton Brooks, and Oakland selected his contract the next day. A left knee injury required lateral meniscus surgery and ended his 2023 season.
Newcomb returned from a separate right knee procedure in 2024, was activated on June 4, and on June 21, 2024, became the first pitcher in Athletics history to earn a win without officially facing a batter. He picked off Austin Martin at first base to end an inning against the Minnesota Twins, and Oakland rallied for a 6-5 victory. After a 6.30 ERA in 10 innings, he was designated for assignment and released in early July 2024.
Boston Red Sox, Athletics, and Chicago White Sox (2025–Present)
On January 14, 2025, Newcomb signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox and made the Opening Day roster as the fifth starter. He moved to the bullpen once the rotation got healthy, going 0-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 11 appearances. On May 27, 2025, he was traded back to the Athletics, where he pitched 51 and one-third innings of 1.75 ERA relief work with 50 strikeouts and two saves before left elbow inflammation ended his season in September. On December 23, 2025, he signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, where he is expected to compete for a role in the 2026 bullpen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his near no-hitter in 2018, Newcomb’s career has been defined by a 2021 World Series ring with the Braves, a pioneering pickoff win in Oakland in 2024, and a one-batter-win entry in the record book. His long history of injuries has also been a defining storyline, with multiple knee surgeries and bullpen transitions shaping how he has been deployed.
Sean Newcomb Family
Personal Life
Newcomb grew up in Middleborough, Massachusetts, and was a Boston Red Sox fan as a child. Public information about his broader personal and family life is limited, and the verified record focuses on his playing career rather than off-the-field details.
2025 Season Performance
Newcomb’s 2025 season was split between the Boston Red Sox and the Athletics. With Boston, he logged 40 innings across 11 appearances, including 5 starts, and posted a 3.83 ERA with 41 strikeouts, but went 0-4 and was designated for assignment in late May. His best stretch came after he was traded back to Oakland, where he became a trusted reliever, producing a 1.75 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 2 saves across 51 and one-third innings in 36 appearances before a left elbow issue shut him down in mid-September.
His late-season injury effectively ended his 2025 campaign a few weeks early, and the strong relief numbers in Oakland helped set the stage for his next opportunity. On December 23, 2025, Newcomb signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Chicago White Sox, a contract that runs through the 2026 season and gives him a clear path to a middle-relief or setup role. Heading into 2026, the outlook is for him to remain a high-leverage bullpen arm for a rebuilding White Sox team, with his fastball and curveball expected to be central to his role.
