The Arizona Fall League was can't-miss baseball for Cleveland Guardians fans. The duo of Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter was a tremendous glimpse at the future but there was another Guardians prospect who was participating in the AFL who looked just as promising.
That's 2021 fourth-round draft pick RHP Ryan Webb.
One reason that Webb may have flown under the radar is he's a pitcher so he's only appearing every few days. He's also not even ranked in the organization's top 30 prospects while Manzardo and DeLauter are in the top five.
That's not to say what he did was any less impressive.
Webb started six games down in the desert and finished the season with a 4.37 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 22.2 innings pitched. The Cleveland prospect also led the AFL with 36 strikeouts.
The 24-year-old broke down what he believes has made him so efficient.
“A lot of the time when I throw, it's a lot about pitching to your strengths, and my changeup is one of my strengths. So I'm gonna ride or die with it. And I've been riding or dying with it here. I just figured I'd continue to throw that and if they hit it, they hit it – good for them. But I'm gonna go down with my stuff.”
Producing incredible young pitching is nothing new for the Guardians. They've built a reputation for drafting and developing some of the best arms in the game and that hasn't changed. Just look at the rookie trio Logan Allen, Tanner Bibee, and Gavin Williams from the 2023 season.
Webb is still at High-A ball with the Lake County Captain so he still has a long journey ahead of him to the Big Leagues. He produced similar numbers there as the AFL finished with a 3.29 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 17 starts.
The impact he made on a stage with some of baseball's best prospects should open the eyes of those around the organization that Webb is ready to make the jump next season to tougher competition.
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