Nate Webb

NATE WEBB, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: August 20, 1997
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 215
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 34th Round, 1033rd Overall, 2016 (Royals)
How Acquired: Minor league free agent
High School: Lee’s Summit (MO) North HS
Agent: N/A
Nate Webb
WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
Webb looked like he was going nowhere after Kansas City drafted him out of high school, as he spent four years in rookie-level leagues.  After the pandemic season, though, his fastball velocity took a big jump, to 95-97 mph, reaching triple digits.  The pitch gets a lot of swings and misses up in the zone.  Webb throws it most of the time, but also has a slider that sometimes generates swings and misses, and a change that needs a lot of work.  The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2021 season, but dropped him after an injury-plagued 2022 season.  The Pirates signed him as a minor league free agent.

2016
R:  1-1-0, 5.06 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 6.8 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

In his debut season, Webb pitched mainly in relief and struggled to throw strikes.

2017
R+:  3-5-0, 5.28 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 58.0 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

The Royals moved Webb up to advanced rookie ball and moved him to the rotation.  He put up mediocre numbers; it was a high-offense league, but his ERA was still well above the average.  He didn’t miss many bats.

2018
R+:  1-2-0, 10.42 ERA, 2.18 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 6.9 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

Kansas City sent Webb back for another season in advanced rookie ball, this time moving him back to relief, although it was generally long relief.  He struggled badly, allowing at least two earned runs in every outing.

2019
R+:  4-3-0, 4.55 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 63.1 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 10.9 K/9

Back at the same level for a third year, Webb returned to starting and still put up mediocre results, with an ERA almost exactly the league average.  He did miss a lot more bats.

2020
DNP

2021
A:  0-2-4, 3.38 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 14.5 K/9
A+:  4-1-1, 4.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 32.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 12.7 K/9

Following the lost 2020 season, the Royals moved Webb up to full season ball, which he split between the two class A levels.  Pitching strictly in relief, he made great strides, holding opponents on the season to a 189/260/326 line.  The ERA in high A is misleading as Webb suffered from a very low strand rate; his xFIP was 2.91.  The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

2022
R:  2-1-0, 5.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 5.8 BB/9, 13.5 K/9
AA:  0-2-1, 9.57 ERA, 2.39 WHIP, 26.1 IP, 6.8 BB/9, 10.3 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 23.14 ERA, 3.86 WHIP, 2.1 IP, 0.7 BB/9, 12.2 K/9

Webb missed the first two and a half months due to unknown injuries.  Once he returned, he struggled badly.  He did pitch well in the Arizona Fall League, although it was just 5.2 IP.  The Royals removed him from the 40-man roster after the season and he opted for free agency.

Webb appeared to be an interesting addition for the Pirates, but before the 2023 season started the Pirates placed him on the full-season injured list.  He’ll be a free agent after the season unless they re-sign him for 2024.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2023: Minor league salary
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $60,000
MiLB Debut: 2016
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2023
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 11/19/2021 (since removed)
Options Remaining: 2 (USED:  2022)
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 11, 2016: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 34th round, 1033rd overall pick; signed on June 15.
November 19, 2021: Contract purchased by the Kansas City Royals.
November 15, 2022: Designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals; became a free agent on November 18.
November 20, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.