The Pittsburgh Pirates today selected left-handed pitcher Tyler Webb off New York's (AL) Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre roster in the Major League phase of the Rule Five Draft. Webb is the first player the Pirates have selected in the Major League phase of the Rule Five Draft since 2011 (Gustavo Nunez).
The 26-year-old Webb went 4-3 with one save, a 3.59 ERA (72.2ip/29er) and 82 strikeouts in 36 appearances (five starts) last season with Scranton-Wilkes Barre.
Webb was selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Carolina, where he went 15-7 with 20 saves and a 2.34 ERA (173.0ip/45er) in a school-record 110 appearances over four seasons. He also helped the Gamecocks win the 2010 and 2011 College World Series titles while being named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll as a senior.
In 2014, Webb was named to the Eastern League's mid-season All-Star team while leading all Yankees farmhands (min. 60.0ip) with a 12.32 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched ratio while finishing second in New York's minor league system with 12 saves.
Since making his professional debut in 2013, Webb has posted a career record of 12-13 with 18 saves, a 3.48 ERA and 265 strikeouts in 129 appearances (five starts).