first impressions

Former Mississippi Braves star Sean Newcomb made a strong debut for Atlanta on Saturday, and ex-Biloxi Shuckers standout Josh Hader checked in as a big leaguer with a fine relief effort for Milwaukee. Both are highly rated prospects. Newcomb tossed 6 1/3 innings against the New York Mets, yielding four hits and one unearned run with seven strikeouts. He was the first Braves pitcher to debut with six or more innings and no earned runs since James Parr (another ex-M-Brave) in 2008, according to MLB Network. Newcomb, a big left-hander who went 8-7 with a 3.86 ERA and 152 strikeouts for the 2016 M-Braves, left in the seventh inning down 1-0; his own error had led to the Mets’ run. The Braves tied it in the bottom of the seventh, but the bullpen subsequently collapsed in a 6-1 loss. Meanwhile, Hader, a lanky lefty who pitched for the Shuckers in 2015 and ’16, became the 13th Biloxi alum to make the big leagues. He worked a scoreless inning at Arizona, allowing no hits and two walks with a strikeout in the Brewers’ 3-2 loss. Hader had an 0.95 ERA in 11 appearances for the Shuckers last season.