| Ljay Newsome | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: November 8, 1996 La Plata, Maryland, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 20, 2020, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics (through 2021 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 1-2 |
| Earned run average | 6.53 |
| Strikeouts | 25 |
| Teams | |
Ljay Wyatt Newsome (born November 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 26th round of the 2015 MLB draft. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Mariners.
Newsome attended Chopticon High School in Morganza, Maryland.[1] He led Chopticon High School to the 2015 Maryland 3A state championship, by pitching a complete game one-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts in the deciding game.[2] Newsome was named the 2015 Gatorade Maryland Baseball Player of the Year.[3] He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 26th round, with the 785th overall selection, of the 2015 MLB draft and signed with them.[4]
Newsome spent his professional debut season of 2015 with the Arizona League Mariners, going 1–0 with a 0.84 ERA over 10+2⁄3 innings. He spent the 2016 season with the Everett AquaSox, going 6–3 with a 4.30 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 60+2⁄3 innings. He spent the 2017 season with the Clinton LumberKings, going 8–9 with a 4.10 ERA and 111 strikeouts over 129+2⁄3 innings.[5] Newsome was the 2017 recipient of the Mariners "60 feet 6 inch" award.[6]
Newsome split the 2018 season between the Modesto Nuts and the Tacoma Rainiers, going a combined 6–10 with a 4.89 ERA and 125 strikeouts and 172 hits over 143+2⁄3 innings.[7] He split the 2019 season between Modesto, the Arkansas Travelers, and Tacoma, going a combined 9–10 with a 3.54 ERA and 169 strikeouts over 155 innings.[8][9][10]
On August 15, 2020, Newsome’s contract was selected to the active roster. He made his major league debut on August 20 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching 3 innings of 1 run ball. Newsome finished his rookie season with the Mariners making 4 starts, earning a 5.17 ERA and 9 strikeouts and 20 hits in 15 innings in the process.[11]
On May 13, 2021, Newsome was placed on the 60-day injured list with a UCL injury.[12] On the season, he recorded a 7.98 ERA in 7 appearances with 16 strikeouts.[13]
On October 22, 2021, Newsome was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.[14] On November 18, Newsome was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Memphis Redbirds.[15] He spent the 2022 season split between the rookie–level Florida Complex League Cardinals, Single–A Palm Beach Cardinals, and Triple–A Memphis Redbirds. In 11 combined appearances, Newsome logged a 4.38 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 12+1⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[16]
On December 15, 2022, Newsome signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[17] He elected free agency on November 6. [18]