Jacob Webb

Webb ended 2019 with an elbow injury, requiring arthroscopic surgery. He then began the 2020 season on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, which kept him sidelined until September. Webb took the ball eight times down the stretch in the regular season and three additional times in the playoffs, allowing a total of three earned runs over 13 innings (all three earned runs coming against the Dodgers in his final appearance of the year). Webb does not have overpowering fastball velocity, but he can pull the string with a changeup that comes in roughly 11 mph slower than the four-seamer. That disparity had hitters out in front and whiffing at the changeup 45.2% of the time, per Statcast. He was eased back in with lower-leverage work after the injury -- Webb didn't collect a single hold after earning nine in 2019 -- but Webb should have a chance to pitch more important innings in 2021.

Webb was effective in his first stint in the majors last season, notching nine holds and two saves in 36 outings before an elbow injury ended his campaign in mid-July. Enthusiasm about his 1.39 ERA and 1.11 WHIP should be tempered, however, as his 4.29 FIP implies that a fair amount of luck was involved in his success. Indeed, Webb's .233 BABIP is likely unsustainable given the batted-ball profile, though he did create some of his own good fortune with a 17.5 IFFB%. The right-hander's 86.0% strand rate also figures to regress as his BABIP rises, especially since Webb didn't strike out many batters (21.4 K%) in his 32.1 major-league innings. Webb does have the tools to be an effective reliever -- he throws a 95 mph fastball with good spin and held hitters to a .152 BAA on his curve -- but he figures to be more of a middle-innings arm than a shutdown, high-leverage stud.