Webb had a strong 2024 campaign and survived being exposed in the Rule 5 Draft. Will Cleveland’s gambit pay off?
Sensational southpaw Ryan Webb is our No. 19 prospect after earning 27% of the vote yesterday in his debut in the prospect voting. He makes his top 20 debut after just missing the cut in 2024.
Webb was a fourth round pick in Cleveland’s starting pitcher-loaded 2021 MLB draft. His debut was delayed due to recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he impressed in a small sample size in 2022, posting a 3.92 ERA and 3.68 FIP over 10 starts with Single-A Lynchburg.
Webb was on pace to have a breakout season in 2023 after starting the year at High-A Lake County but he was sidelined by an oblique injury that limited him to 17 starts with the Captains. Despite that, he still managed to post an impressive 3.29 ERA and 3.93 FIP with 83 strikeouts in 82 innings.
Due to missing some time in the regular season, Cleveland had Webb placed in the Arizona Fall League and he flourished, leading the AFL in strikeouts despite facing some of the top hitters in MiLB.
The Guardians advanced Webb to Double-A to begin 2024 and he again impressed, this time posting a 2.87 ERA and 2.97 FIP while increasing his strikeout rate and reducing his walk rate over 18 starts and 106.2 innings.
#Guardians 25yr old LHP prospect Ryan Webb was outstanding again tonight punching out eight Bowie batters over 6.2 scoreless innings of work picking up the win for Akron!
Line – 6.2(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 8SO (91 Pitches 61 Strikes)
Webb has not allowed a run over his last three… pic.twitter.com/ByDAGjIv6d
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 28, 2024
Cleveland promoted Webb to Columbus to close out the 2024 season and he finished the year strong, sporting a 2.60 ERA over seven starts and 34.2 innings. Many thought Webb could be selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but the Guardians left him exposed anyways. Thankfully, no one took a flier on him and he’s back for another year with the Guardians.
Look for Webb to begin 2025 in Triple-A where he’ll be at least third in line to earn opportunities to start behind 40-man roster members Joey Cantillo and Doug Nikhazy.
Robert Arias, OF (Age 18)
2024 (DSL) 180 PA, .247/.367/.347, 0 HR, 29 SB, 13.9 BB%, 8.3 K%, 102 wRC+
Cleveland’s top international signing from 2024 out of the DR, didn’t put up great numbers, but walked significantly more than he struck out and was very unlucky with a .272 BABIP.
Juneiker Caceres, OF (Age 17)
2024 (DSL) 167 PA, .340/.425/.504, 0 HR, 9 SB, 11.4 BB%, 10.8 K%, 146 wRC+
Absolutely annihilated the ball as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela in his pro debut at the Dominican Summer League in 2024. Is still light years away from the MLB level.
Braylon Doughty, RHP (Age 19)
2024: ——
Cleveland’s competitive balance pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, selected at No. 36 overall out of high school with a $2.57 million signing bonus. Touches 97 mph already with his fastball.
Nic Enright, RHP (Age 28)
2024 (AAA): 16 G, 17.0 IP, 1.06 ERA, 0.80 FIP, 36.1 K%, 11.1 BB%
Overcame stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma plus a mid-season injury to put up impressive numbers in a small sample size in 2024, earning a spot on the Guardians’ 40-man roster.
Daniel Espino, RHP (Age 24)
2024: ——
Cleveland’s 2019 first round pick, once compared to Jacob DeGrom and Gerrit Cole, has struggled to stay healthy and has not pitched since 2022 due to shoulder surgeries.
Kody Huff, C (Age 24)
2024 (AA): 389 PA, .245/.340/.364, 7 HR, 7 SB, 11.3 BB%, 22.4 K%, 107 wRC+
Acquired in the Cal Quantrill trade. Huff is a defense-first catcher who put up reasonable offensive numbers in his first taste of Double-A in 2024. Caught 33% of baserunners.
Michael Kennedy, LHP (Age 20)
2024 (A w/ PIT): 15 GS, 73.0 IP, 4.07 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 26.6 K%, 5.3 BB%
2024 (A+ w/ PIT): 2 GS, 10.2 IP, 0.84 ERA, 1.87 FIP, 36.6 K%, 7.3 BB%
Kennedy joined the organization in the Spencer Horwitz trade(s). Thought he did not dominate at Single-A he finished strong with two great High-A starts.
Guy Lipscomb, OF (Age 23)
2024 (A+): 283 PA, .278/.360/.379, 3 HR, 26 SB, 10.2 BB%, 15.2 K%, 116 wRC+
2024 (AA): 79 PA, .273/.380/.409, 1 HR, 8 SB, 15.2 BB%, 16.5 K%, 130 wRC+
Kwan-esque contact-first outfielder with good speed and an excellent eye at the plate. Actually improved his numbers following a midseason promotion to Double-A Akron.
Luis Merejo, 1B (Age 18)
2024 (ACL): 200 PA, .250/.417/.421, 4 HR, 8 SB, 17.5 BB%, 24.0 K%, 123 wRC+
2024 (A): 121 PA, .282/.372/.466, 3 HR, 3 SB, 9.1 BB%, 24.8 K%, 145 wRC+
A young Dominican with power potential, showed a great eye at the plate in his stateside debut, then put up impressive hitting numbers in a small sample size with Lynchburg.
Joey Oakie, RHP (Age 18)
2024: ——
Cleveland’s third round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Ankeny Centennial in Iowa, Oakie stands 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with a mid-90s fastball and took a $2 million signing bonus.
Alfonsin Rosario, OF (Age 20)
2024 (A w/ CHC): 456 PA, .230/.344/.423, 16 HR, 20 SB, 12.3 BB%, 32.2 K%, 127 wRC+
Acquired from Chicago in the Eli Morgan trade, put up impressive speed and power numbers as a 19-year-old in Single-A last season, but strikeouts could be an issue.