Webb solid to close out first season

September 29th, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO -- made the most of his final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the Giants’ decision-makers as they begin to look ahead to their rotation options for 2020.

The 22-year-old right-hander delivered his second consecutive quality start by holding the Dodgers to two runs over six innings, but he was charged with the tough-luck loss after the Giants were shut out, 2-0, in the penultimate game of the season on Saturday afternoon at Oracle Park.

Webb allowed only an RBI single to Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who fired seven scoreless innings to clinch the National League ERA title (2.32), and a solo home run to Max Muncy in his eighth career Major League start. Webb also recorded his first career hit, stroking a single to right field in the fifth inning.

“I thought I was going to get thrown out,” said Webb, who had to hustle to beat out Joc Pederson’s strong throw to first base.

Webb finished the season with a 5.22 ERA over 39 2/3 innings for the Giants, though he allowed only three runs over 12 innings in his final two outings of the year against the playoff-bound Braves and Dodgers. He will retain his rookie eligibility in 2020, when he is expected to be in the mix for a spot in the Giants’ Opening Day rotation.

“He’s got the equipment, I think, to start in the Major Leagues,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He has shown that. Sure, he’s had some ups and downs there a little bit. But he’s a guy that will be competing for the rotation next year. And so it’s good to give him this kind of look and stay consistent with it.”

Webb, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline the Giants’ top pitching prospect and No. 5 overall, opened the season at Double-A Richmond and posted a 2.00 ERA over his first five starts of the season, but he received an 80-game suspension in May after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Webb has maintained his innocence, insisting that he had no idea how the substance entered his body, but he acknowledged that the suspension made him doubt that he’d receive a promotion from the Giants this year. He spent the extended layoff at the club’s Minor League complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., continuing to work out and throw before returning to action in July.

Webb made seven more starts in the Minors, including just one at Triple-A Sacramento, before receiving his first callup from the Giants on Aug. 17. While he endured some stumbles over his first month in the Majors, the Giants saw enough promise to keep in their rotation for the remainder of the season.

“He’s got good secondary pitches, but you like the fastball,” Bochy said. “It plays. It has good velocity and good movement. It’s down, it’s sinking. He can elevate. That’s where I’ll start. He has a good changeup and breaking ball. Now it’s just fine-tuning all these pitches and being consistent with the command.”

Webb said the biggest lessons for him have come on the mental side of the game, as he’s spoken with current and former Giants pitchers like Jeff Samardzija, Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Cain to learn how to regulate his emotions on the mound.

“The main thing they were telling me is, ‘Slow it down, let the game come to you, don’t get too frustrated,’” Webb said. “I know you guys have seen me do that before. But I try to pull it in, use that. Not in a negative way, but in a positive way.”