The Atlanta Braves made several moves to re-arrange the rotation and bullpen Sunday, sending LHP Sean Newcomb to AAA Gwinnett and RHP Arodys Vizcaino to the Injured List. In their place, the team has recalled RHP Dan Winkler and another righty set to make his major league debut.
The Player
Jacob Webb, RHP
Age: 25.7
OFR Prospect Rank: 44
2019 Level: AAA Gwinnett
The Results
2018: 3.15 ERA | 3.86 FIP | 51 G, 0 GS | 54.1 IP | 3.81 BB/9 | 11.43 K/9 (AA/AAA)
2019: 2.25 ERA | 5.07 FIP | 4 G, 0 GS | 4.0 IP | 2.25 BB/9 | 11.25 K/9 (AAA)
Minor League Career: 2.64 ERA | 3.33 FIP | 118 G, 6 GS | 170.1 IP | 2.9 BB/9 | 11.1 K/9
The History
Webb is an 18th-round draft pick out of Tabor College in 2014 after he posted a 1.88 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 105 innings in 15 starts. After joining the Braves in 2014, just 11 appearances into his pro career, Webb suffered a UCL tear and underwent TJS. Rehab would wipe out his 2015 season and abbreviate his 2016. In 2016 however, he struck out an eye-popping 34 batters in 14.2 innings pitched, putting his marker down for a quick advancement as a reliever.
The Braves obliged him with a placement to advanced-A Florida in 2017, where he re-established himself as a reliable late inning option, pitching to a 1.74 ERA and earning a mid-season promotion to Mississippi. His tenure with Mississippi lasted the rest of 2017 and the first half of 2018, and he posted a 2.89 ERA in 46.2 innings and 21 appearances in AA. Webb would finish 2018 with the Gwinnett Stripers, pitching to a 3.69 ERA in 30 innings.
Webb was eligible for the Rule 5 draft after the 2017 season, but no team bit; with Webb’s stuff playing up and his reaching the AAA level, the Braves decided not to take that chance again and he was added to the 40-man roster last November. Webb had an undistinguished statistical line in Grapefruit League play, though he demonstrated a lively fastball.
The Report
Webb is listed at 6′-1″ and 200 pounds. He has an uncomplicated, upright delivery and comes at hitters with a 3-quarter arm slot with decent deception. From there, Webb can go with three different pitches. Webb predominantly relies on a mid-90’s fastball that tops out at 99. He uses his slider to both set up the fastball and to try to put away hitters, and this pitch has shown more bite and fade over the last 12 months to the point where it can look like a curve. Webb also throws an average change-up that he uses mostly against tough lefties.
What has kept Webb from the majors before now has been periodic command issues, though that also has improved over the last year. Webb has flyball pitcher tendencies that limits hard contact but can sometimes cost him a few balls over the wall.
What’s Next
If last season is any indication, Webb’s tenure in Atlanta this first call-up could be short, but hopefully he will not have to endure what teammate Wes Parsons did last season and have to wait for a third call-up before getting a chance to pitch in a game. If he does pitch, look for Webb to get used in low- to middle-leverage situations for the time being. That said, Webb’s stuff is major-league caliber, and he could parlay an impressive outing or two into a an extended look as another teammate, Chad Sobotka, was able to do last season.
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