John Webb

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #25 prospect in 2004
  Webb had Tommy John surgery in 2001, and he started to regain his previous stuff in the Arizona Fall League after the 2003 season. After throwing 88-91 mph during the summer, he bumped his fastball up to 91-94 mph in the AFL. Webb's heater has late sinking life, but he needs to work it inside more often. A full-time shortstop and part-time reliever at Manatee (Fla.) Community College, he brings good athleticism to the mound. That should help him repeat his delivery better, the key to improved command and secondary pitches. Webb will show a slider with some power and depth, but not on a consistent basis. His curveball and changeup are just ordinary at best. If he can continue to pitch like he did in the AFL, he could help the Cubs after a season in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #20 prospect in 2003
  Like Matt Bruback a product of Manatee (Fla.) CC, Webb emerged in the shadows of Juan Cruz at Lansing in 2000 before succumbing to Tommy John surgery the following season. Before he hurt his elbow, Webb threw a low-90s sinker, a plus slider and a changeup. He showed the same quality of stuff only sporadically in 2002 as he worked his way back to full strength. He tired toward the end of the season after he was promoted to Double-A. Webb competes hard and learned to pitch at less than his best, which should help him once his pitches and his command bounce back as expected this year. More of a shortstop as an amateur, Webb is athletic and even was used as a pinch-hitter last year. He'll return to Double-A in 2003.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #26 prospect in 2002
  Two of the Cubs' better pitching prospects succumbed to Tommy John surgery in 2001. Webb, who emerged in the shadows of Juan Cruz at Lansing the year before, missed all of April, made five appearances in May and then was done for the season. Fellow righthander Carlos Urrutia, who had a live arm but hadn't gotten past Rookie ball, didn't even take the mound last year. Ironically, Webb had very little mileage on his arm after playing mostly shortstop and occasionally working out of the bullpen as an amateur. Before going down, he had three effective pitches: a 90-92 mph sinker, a plus slider and a changeup. He kept the ball down in the strike zone and didn't hurt himself with walks, either. Chicago hopes he'll be back on the mound by June at the latest.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #9 prospect in 2001
  Webb was primarily a shortstop in his amateur career, but he attracted the Cubs with his work as a late-inning reliever. He stayed in the bullpen for his pro debut, then made a smooth transition to starting last season. Webb has what assistant GM Jim Hendry calls Wrigley Field stuff. He keeps his 90-92 mph sinker and plus slider down in the strike zone, permitting just five homers in 152 innings in 2000 (and only one in 210 at-bats against lefthanders). His changeup is a solid third pitch, and he can throw his entire repertoire for strikes. He's athletic and very projectable, so he could add a touch more velocity. Webb has no glaring need except for added experience. He has three pitches, fine command and durability, and he gets lefthanders out. He will begin 2001 by returning to Daytona, and he likely will get promoted to Double-A by the end of the year. He hasn't attracted the hype of the higher-ceiling pitchers ahead of him, but he's a legitimate prospect in his own right. He projects as a No. 3 starter, and if the big league rotation gets too crowded, Webb might turn into a closer.