LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As Sean Newcomb displayed an effective curveball over three scoreless innings in Sunday afternoon’s 6-5 walk-off win over the Marlins at Champion Stadium, the Braves left-hander gained reason to be confident in his attempt to be more aggressive with the pitch this season.
“I’m just being aggressive in the zone and looking for swings,” Newcomb said. “I either want to spin it into the dirt or into-the-zone kind of deal. I’m trying to eliminate those elevated misses and arm-side misses.”
Through the first season and a half of Newcomb’s career, we have not yet seen the true value of his curveball, a pitch that was hyped during his days as a top prospect.
Per Statcast, Newcomb threw his curveball in the zone just 33.8 percent of the time, the lowest percentage among the 38 Major League pitchers who totaled at least 400 curveballs in 2018. The figure ranked 59th among the 60 who recorded at least 300 curveballs.
Newcomb also ranked last among this group with a swing-and-miss rate of just 8.4 percent on his curveballs. This percentage rose to 10.6 percent when only accounting for pitches in the zone. But the numbers show hitters did little when putting this pitch in play.
Among the 60 pitchers who totaled 60 curveballs, Newcomb surrendered the ninth-lowest batting average (.139, 10-for-72) and third-lowest slugging percentage (.181).
“When he hits with that curveball, they’ve got to be more aggressive with his fastball,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Even his fastball is a swing-and-miss pitch. Last year, I felt his changeup kept him in counts. The breaking ball was inconsistent. But it’s a pitch we’ve seen he’s capable of throwing. It was good to see him have a good one.”
Snitker was speaking specifically of the curveball Newcomb displayed while scattering two hits and pitching around his lone walk issued to the Marlins on Sunday. He used the curveball to end both the second and third innings with strikeouts of Pedro Alvarez and Miguel Rojas.
“His fastball and breaking ball are there,” Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said. “Those two really play off each other nicely. I thought he looked great. He threw a slider in there and really executed it nicely. I thought it was a really good outing for him and a good day of work.”
Vizcaino debuts
The Braves will likely not get a feel for the durability of Arodys Vizcaíno’s right shoulder until he experiences a normal workload during the regular season. But they were pleased to see Vizcaino touch 96 mph while making his first spring appearance on Sunday. The veteran closer completed a scoreless frame, hitting a batter but also striking out Starlin Castro, Neil Walker and Alvarez.
Foltynewicz update
Asked to comment on the evaluation Dr. Gary Lourie made on Saturday, Mike Foltynewicz declined and walked away from his locker. But this seems to be a product of the Braves choosing to wait a few more days before clearing him to resume throwing.
Snitker simply said Foltynewicz will continue to undergo treatment. It hasn’t been determined when the hurler will be cleared to throw. The All-Star experienced right elbow discomfort after completing two innings during his spring debut against the Astros on Feb. 24.
Foltynewicz will almost certainly not be ready in time to make what would have been his first Opening Day start. But indications are that he simply needs rest and may be available to join Atlanta’s rotation during the regular season’s first week.
Swanson and Donaldson debuts
Josh Donaldson will likely make his Braves debut during Wednesday’s game against the Tigers. The Braves have taken a cautious approach with the former American League MVP Award winner, who battled ailments over the past two Spring Trainings.
Dansby Swanson’s attempt to debut this past Friday was nixed when he felt discomfort while taking batting practice. But it appears Swanson might have simply been bothered by scar tissue that developed around the area of his left hand where he partially tore a ligament during the final week of the 2018 regular season.
Swanson may debut during Tuesday’s game against the Yankees, but Snitker said a decision will not be made until Monday.
Odds and ends
Flowers hit a long two-run homer during the first inning of Sunday’s win and then exited after his left wrist was struck with a pitch in the third. The veteran catcher said he was fine and would not miss any time.
Non-roster invitee Andres Blanco hit the walk-off homer with one out in the ninth. The 34-year-old veteran last played in the Majors for the Phillies in 2017.
Up next
Julio Teheran will make his first Grapefruit League start when the Braves host the Astros at 1:05 p.m. ET on Monday. With Foltynewicz’s uncertain status, there’s a chance Teheran could end up making his sixth consecutive Opening Day start.