Former University of Hartford Star to Make MLB Debut Saturday

ATLANTA, GA — Former University of Hartford baseball star Sean Newcomb will make his major league all debut Saturday, as the Atlanta Braves host the New York Mets at 1 p.m.

Newcomb, 23, one of the Braves' top prospects, has been pitching for the franchise's Triple-A Gwinnett (Ga.) club before earning the call-up to the majors.

Saturday's game will be broadcast locally on SportsNet New York (SNY), the Mets' regional sports network. Outside of the Mets' regional market, which includes Hartford County, the game will be broadcast on MLB Network.

Newcomb, who posted a 3-3 record and 2.97 ERA in the minors this season, is slated to oppose New York starting pitcher Robert Gsellman (4-3, 5.53 ERA).

Over his three-year career at Hartford, the 6-foot-5, 255 lb. lefthanded pitcher from Middleboro, Mass. struck out 243 batters, the first time a Hawks pitcher punched out 200 or more hitters. He also compiled a career earned run average of 2.73, which is the second lowest all-time, and he is tied for fourth all-time with a .600 winning percentage, with 15 career victories and 10 losses.

Newcomb compiled a 1.25 earned run average through 93.1 innings as a junior. His 1.25 ERA registers as the lowest ever in a single season, while he also struck out a single season program best 106 batters, including a career-high 14 in the final start of his career against the Binghamton Bearcats in the 2014 America East Championship.

Following his junior season in 2014, Newcomb earned a trio of All-America accolades from Perfect Game (second team), American Baseball Coaches Association (second team) and Baseball America (third team). Those honors came after being named America East Pitcher of the Year, the first-ever major conference award for Hartford baseball, and First Team All-Conference. In addition, he was also tabbed as the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Pitcher of the Year and earned First Team All-New England honors.

Newcomb was a first-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Angels in 2014. After two years in the Angels' minor league system, he was dealt to the Atlanta Braves at the conclusion of the 2015 season. This year at Gwinnett, he led the Braves with 74 strikeouts in 57.2 innings. While he has walked a team-high 33 batters, he has allowed the fewest home runs (three) among all Gwinnett pitchers who have thrown at least 32 innings.

Hartford head coach Justin Blood said, "Most importantly, Sean is a great person. He is humble, modest and obviously a special talent. He has been great about staying connected with the program and even gives his time to attend our annual 'Live Life to the Max' clinic for the Max Michael Rosenfield Foundation. I'm very proud of and happy for Sean and his family. The fact that so many alumni have shown support for him throughout his entire professional career shows just how important he is to our program to this day. I'm really excited to join some of his former teammates in Atlanta this weekend to see him pitch on the big stage."

Photo credit: Steve McLaughlin/University of Hartford