Santa Clarita Valley Journal (48.22) New Man Newbold Makes Himself at Home in Stars Rotation

[mragland]

New Man Newbold Makes Himself at Home in Stars Rotation

Santa Clarita Valley Journal
Vicente Lamb, Stars Reporter
June 9, 2048

VALENCIA – Coming out of high school, Harold Newbold went undrafted in 2042. A native of Brisbane, Australia, the teenage right-hander considered attending college or signing on as a free agent with a UMEBA or BBA club. In the end, he signed on with the Chicago Black Sox, receiving a small signing bonus that helped keep the door open to college down the line. He was 6' 8”, and 180 lbs soaking wet. Newbold had a low 90s fastball, a sweeping curveball, and a changeup that needed a lot of work.

At the time, the industry consensus seemed to be that Newbold, who was just 16, was a fringe reliever prospect, at best, but the Black Sox had Newbold slotted in as a starter by '43. By '44 there was more interest in Newbold as a legitimate prospect and minor league awards followed. In '45, he took a 2.16 ERA and 0.97 WHIP to the AA All-Star game. “I was beginning to envision myself pitching in Black Sox Park,” said Newbold of that period, “things really seemed to be coming together.”

But Chicago needed a center fielder and saw itself as flush with pitching prospects. On June 22, 2045, Newbold found himself shipped off to Mexico City in exchange for Dan Flores. That winter, Newbold made the BBN Top Prospects list, coming in at #99. He would spend the bulk of the next two seasons on the Aztecs' AAA roster, and he would get called up to the big league club in '47, where he made seven starts, but it was a struggle. “I was generous to a fault,” said Newbold, who gave up 16 home runs in just 36 and 1/3 innings pitched and notched a 9.91 ERA in his time in Mexico City.

While it looked like Newbold would be fine-tuning his game in AAA Los Cabos this season, Mexico City needed a center fielder, and Newbold found himself on the move again, this time to Valencia as part of the Haney-French trade. The Stars would evaluate Newbold at AAA Mars, but evidently didn't need much convincing that Newbold was ready for big league duty, promoting him after just two starts.

After making six appearances as a reliever (where he struck out ten, walked one, allowed five hits, and two earned runs) Newbold moved into the Stars rotation. It looked like Mexico City all over again, at least in the beginning. In his first start against Madison, Newbold lasted five innings, striking out just one batter and walking five, while allowing four hits, including a two-run homer to Elmer Stickles. Newbold took the loss. In his next start, at hitter friendly Kentucky Truck Plant Stadium, Newbold had to shake off a first-inning home run by Luis Mendoza, but kept the Sluggers off the scoreboard for the remainder of five and a third innings. He collected the win that day.

After Sunday's home win against the Bears, Newbold's line for the year stands at 54 1/3 innings pitched in thirteen appearances (including seven starts), with 55 strikeouts to 17 walks, and 10 earned runs on 33 hits allowed. That's a 1.66 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 76 FIP-. Not too shabby for a gangling, undrafted teenager from Brisbane.