Ljay Newsome

Ljay Wyatt Newsome (born November 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the TSG Hawks of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 26th round of the 2015 MLB draft. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Mariners.

Amateur career
Newsome attended Chopticon High School in Morganza, Maryland. 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. Newsome was named the 2015 Gatorade Maryland Baseball Player of the Year. 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.

Seattle Mariners
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. Newsome was the 2017 recipient of the Mariners "60 feet 6 inch" award.

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. 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.

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.

On May 13, 2021, Newsome was placed on the 60-day injured list with a UCL injury. On the season, he recorded a 7.98 ERA in 7 appearances with 16 strikeouts.

St. Louis Cardinals
On October 22, 2021, Newsome was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals. On November 18, Newsome was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Memphis Redbirds. 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.

San Francisco Giants
On December 15, 2022, Newsome signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. He split the season between the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Giants, Single–A San Jose Giants, and High–A Eugene Emeralds. In 11 appearances for the three affiliates, Newsome accumulated a 2.08 ERA with 22 strikeouts across $17 1⁄3$ innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.

Gastonia Baseball Club
On April 30, 2024, Newsome signed with the Gastonia Baseball Club of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 11 starts for Gastonia, Newsome compiled a 5–1 record and 4.15 ERA with 54 strikeouts across $56 1⁄3$ innings pitched.

TSG Hawks
On July 16, 2024, Newsome's contract was purchased by the TSG Hawks of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.