Angels prospect Sean Newcomb is perfect at Futures Game

In little more than a year, Sean Newcomb has gone from playing mid-major college baseball in Connecticut to pitching on a major league field in Cincinnati.

And pitching well. Although Sunday’s Futures Game was an exhibition, Newcomb flashed the form that the Angels believe can lead him to secure a spot in their starting rotation in the next year or two.

He worked a perfect inning, with a fastball sitting in the 93-95-mph range and a sharp curve.

Newcomb, 22, was the Angels’ first-round draft choice last year, and their first in three years. They forfeited their 2012 and 2013 first-round picks for signing Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, respectively.

Newcomb is 5-1 with a 2.48 earned-run average in his first full pro season, split between Class-A Burlington (Iowa) and Class-A Inland Empire.

“Hopefully, double A sometime soon,” he said.

He has pitched 83 innings this season, with 106 strikeouts and 44 walks. He said he has focused this season on his changeup as well as commanding his fastball.

Newcomb said he expects the Angels to limit him to 150 or 160 innings this season. He said he does not expect the Angels to consider calling him up in September, either as a starter or left-handed reliever.

“I don’t think that would be the case,” he said. “But that would be awesome. I would love to help.”