The Atlanta Braves recalled left-hander Sean Newcomb while optioning Touki Toussaint to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. Newcomb was sent down to the minors on April 14th after starting the season by walking eight batters over 12 1/3 innings.
"Just going after hitters, challenging them."Sean Newcomb made his 2019 bullpen debut with two clean innings against the Dodgers. The lefty has not issued a walk in his past 16 innings between the @GoStripers and @Braves. pic.twitter.com/1kln5aEDde
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) May 7, 2019
FOX Sports South Braves analyst Brian Jordan believes Newcomb being sent down was a humbling experience.
"It was a wake-up call for him," Jordan said. "A lot of these guys, they get rushed along. They get put on this pedestal. They have a little success and all of the sudden kind of get a little arrogant...If you get off to a start like he did, reality sets in."
"He's going to come up and he's going prove himself."
Newcomb got an opportunity to come out of the bullpen against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday and threw two shut-out innings. It was his first opportunity to prove to the coaching staff and front office that he deserves to be back in the starting rotation.
"I think he'll be back in that starting pitching role because he had too much success," Jordan continued. "He knows he can do it. Everybody knows he can do it. Sometimes, again, you got to to send guys down for a reality check and hopefully they come back with that confidence and we'll see that Sean Newcomb that we loved last year. I think he will be back in that starting rotation."
