Tyler Webb

TYLER WEBB, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: July 20, 1990
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 225
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Drafted: 10th Round, 314th Overall, 2013 (Yankees)
How Acquired: Rule 5 draft (from Yankees)
College: University of South Carolina
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Webb took a while to get to professional baseball.  He was first drafted out of college as an eligible sophomore in 2011, which means that he must have red-shirted a year prior to that.  He didn’t sign, wasn’t drafted in his junior year despite a strong season pitching in relief, then went in round 10 to the Yankees in his senior year.  As a result, he was nearly 23 when he signed.  He’s a big guy with solid velocity for a left-hander; Baseball America has him at 90-92 mph, while Fangraphs says 90-93, touching 95.  He also throws a slider and change.  He’s dominated left-handed hitters in the minors, but hasn’t been as good against right-handed hitters.  He’s a flyball pitcher, but hasn’t had any significant gopher ball problems.  The Pirates selected Webb from the Yankees in the 2016 Rule 5 draft.

2013
A-:  0-0-1, 0.00 ERA, 0.40 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 14.4 K/9
A:  3-1-2, 3.86 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 30.1 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 11.9 K/9

After four outings in the New York-Penn League, Webb moved up to low A and pitched very well, better than his ERA indicates.  Opponents managed just a .579 OPS against him, just .480 by left-handed hitters.

2014
A+:  0-0-4, 2.77 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 13.0 IP, 0.7 BB/9, 11.8 K/9
AA:  1-6-7, 4.04 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 35.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 12.9 K/9
AAA:  2-0-1, 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 20.0 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 11.7 K/9

The Yankees moved Webb up quickly through three levels.  He continued to strike hitters out at a prodigious rate, but had a little more trouble with walks at the higher levels.

2015
AAA:  2-3-2, 2.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 9.7 K/9

The Yankees sent Webb back to AAA and he pitched reasonably well, but got hit harder than previously, with opponents batting .261 against him.  He dominated left-handed hitters, holding them to a 217/242/283 line, but right-handed hitters did much better at 290/353/473.  Webb missed the second half of the season with a tendon injury in his pitching hand, but was able to pitch in the Arizona Fall League.

2016
AAA:  4-3-1, 3.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 72.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 10.2 K/9

Webb stayed in AAA all season and pitched well.  He made five starts, which damaged his overall numbers.  As a reliever he had a 2.65 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.  As a starter his numbers were 6.38 and 1.58.  He again had little trouble with left-handed hitters, holding them to a 215/267/291 line, but did much better against right-handed hitters at 258/313/397.

At the time the Pirates selected Webb, they already had four left-handed relievers:  Tony Watson, Antonio Bastardo, Felipe Rivero and Wade LeBlanc.  They were trying to trade either Watson or Bastardo, though, and LeBlanc has little upside.  Webb appears ready for the majors, so he shouldn’t need to be hidden all year.  He should have a good chance of making the team.  He does, however, appear to be best suited to serve as a lefty specialist, and manager Clint Hurdle has generally been unwilling to use lefty relievers as LOOGYs.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2017: Major league minimum
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $30,000
MiLB Debut: 2013
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: N/A
MLB FA Eligible: 2022
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Added to 40-Man: 12/8/2016
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 8, 2011: Drafted in the 48th round, 1465th overall, by the Cincinnati Reds.
June 7, 2013:
Drafted in the 10th round, 314th overall, by the New York Yankees; signed on June 16.
December 8, 2016: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the New York Yankees in the Rule 5 draft; added to 40-man roster.