In the 34th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected the 6’2″ 215lb right-handed pitcher. Webb grew up in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and played high school baseball there.
Most 34th-round picks, like Webb, would choose college, but Webb chose to play for his hometown team. Webb has a fascinating past, which Alec Lewis detailed in a recent article.
He ended up working on the grounds crew at Kauffman Stadium, where he could be around the game and his favorite club.
From there, his love for the game and his connection to the Royals only became stronger.
Webb struggled to acclimatize to professional baseball until 2021, posting an ERA of over five in his first three seasons.
began to turn things around in 2019, striking out 77 batters in 63.1 innings thrown. His walk rate decreased from over 15% to less than 10%.
In 2018, he improved his BB/9 from 6.87 to 3.84. Webb used the 2020 season to work on his weaknesses, even constructing a mound in his garden.
In 2020, the hard work paid off. Webb split time between Low-A Columbia and High-A Quad Cities as a reliever, throwing out of the bullpen.
He had a lot of success, striking out 89 opponents in 59.1 innings of work. He struck out 4% of the time in Low-A and 35.1 percent of the time in High-A.
He paired that strikeout rate with a 2.48 BB/9, whic0h was a significant improvement. His fastball averages 96-98 mph and has reached 100 mph on several occasions.
He’s figured out how to make his fastball command more consistent and throw more strikes. He was one of five players added to the Royals’ 40-man roster this offseason as a result of his accomplishments.
How Much Does Nathan Webb Make?
Nathan Webb’s salary is under review.