Angels Sign Sean Newcomb, Their #1 Draft Pick

The Angels had until 2 PM on Friday to sign their first round pick Sean Newcomb. They got him for a signing bonus of $2.5 Million, about $40,000 over slot for the fifteenth pick in the draft.

Newcomb pitched for the University of Hartford (Connecticut) this year and had a breakout campaign where he struck out 106 batters in just under 100 IP with a 1.25 ERA. Harold Reynolds of the MLB Baseball Channel gushed that Newcomb could be the first player from the 2014 draft class to make it to the Major Leagues.

The comparison around baseball for Newcomb is Jon Lester. A hard throwing lefty with amazing secondary pitches, Newcomb can throw 98 MPH and then dazzles with breaking pitches that have been steadily improving. Newcomb was born June 12, 1993 in case you want to feel old. His college seasoning puts him closer to the majors even though he is almost two years younger than Mike Trout.

In a recent Angels Weekly segment about the draft war room, scouting director Ric Wilson is informed that Newcomb is still available once the thirteenth round pick is announced. He gives a look of dumbfounded elation that is usually reserved for lottery winners. Newcomb looked like he won the lottery when he got to talk to Alex Curry in the Angels dugout before Friday's game for a future edition of Angels Weekly. Stay tuned!