Allen Webster (baseball)

Allen Webster
Webster with the Boston Red Sox in 2014
Pitcher
Born: (1990-02-10) February 10, 1990 (age 34)
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 21, 2013, for the Boston Red Sox
KBO: April 2, 2016, for the Samsung Lions
Last appearance
MLB: May 10, 2019, for the Chicago Cubs
KBO: June 5, 2016, for the Samsung Lions
MLB statistics
Win–loss record8–6
Earned run average6.03
Strikeouts88
KBO statistics
Win–loss record4–4
Earned run average5.70
Strikeouts59
Teams

Carl Allen Webster (born February 10, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. He also played in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions.

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Webster was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB Draft and began his career with the Gulf Coast Dodgers in 2008. In 2009, he played primarily with the Arizona League Dodgers and in 2010 was with the Great Lakes Loons where he was 12–9 with a 2.88 ERA in 26 appearances (23 starts) and stuck out 114 batters. In 2011, he started nine games for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and was 5–2 with a 2.33 ERA before a mid-season promotion to the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts. In 2012, he made 22 starts for the Lookouts (and 5 relief appearances) with a 6–8 record and 3.55 ERA.

Boston Red Sox

On August 25, 2012, Webster was traded to the Boston Red Sox along with infielder Iván DeJesús, Jr., first baseman James Loney, and two players to be named later, in exchange for first baseman Adrián González, pitcher Josh Beckett, outfielder Carl Crawford, infielder Nick Punto, and $11 million. Eventually, pitcher Rubby De La Rosa and OF/1B Jerry Sands were the two players to complete the trade.[1]

Entering 2013, Webster was ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the Red Sox minor league system[2] and ranked 71st in the MLB.com Top 100 Prospects list.[3] The Red Sox added him to their 40-man roster and assigned him to the Triple–A Pawtucket Red Sox to start the season.

The Red Sox called him up to the Majors for the first time on April 21, 2013, to start the second game of a doubleheader.[4] Webster was optioned the next day. Webster was recalled May 7 after reliever Joel Hanrahan went on the disabled list. Webster was optioned back to Pawtucket on May 9, and recalled on June 22. During his time in the Majors of the 2013 season, Webster made 8 appearances (7 starts) going 1–2 with an 8.60 ERA.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 12, 2014, the Red Sox traded Webster, Rubby De La Rosa, and Raymel Flores to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Wade Miley.[5] The 2015 season proved to be a difficult one for Webster. He was reported to have had shoulder fatigue in April. After struggling to the tune of an 8.18 ERA in Triple–A, Webster was called up to Arizona and made 5 starts while also appearing out of the bullpen four times. The Diamondbacks designated Webster for assignment after the season.[6]

Samsung Lions

On November 25, 2015, Webster was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.[7] He was released by the Pirates on December 16[8] and shortly afterwards signed a one-year contract with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League.[9] He managed to start 12 games for the Lions, pitching to a 5.70 ERA.

Texas Rangers

On November 17, 2016, the Texas Rangers signed Webster to a minor league deal.[10] He made 12 appearances (11 starts) for the Triple–A Round Rock Express, registering a 4–4 record and 6.79 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 58+13 innings pitched. Webster elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.[11]

Chicago Cubs

On March 2, 2018, Webster signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[12] Across three levels in Chicago's minor league system, Webster pitched to a 2.65 ERA in 17 games, and was called up to the Major Leagues on September 19 pitching in three games.[13] He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 30, 2018. On December 19, he re-signed to a minor league deal with the Cubs.[14] With the Cubs struggling at the start of the 2019 season Webster was called up to the majors to bolster the bullpen. In his first relief appearance for the Cubs on April 6, the first batter he faced, Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, hit a three-run homer. On May 11, Webster was put on the 10-day disabled list and later moved to the 60-day list. On July 3, he began rehabilitation assignments with the Cubs' rookie league team continuing on July 9 with the Double–A Tennessee Smokies. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[15]

Washington Nationals

On March 9, 2020, Webster signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.[16] He was assigned to the Nationals' Double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators. The Senators' 2020 schedule was canceled, along with that of every other Minor League Baseball team because of the COVID-19 pandemic,[17] and Webster was released on May 31, 2020.

References

  1. ^ Axisa, Mike (August 25, 2012). "Red Sox, Dodgers Complete Nine-Player Blockbuster". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "Boston Red Sox prospects".
  3. ^ "MLB.com – 2013 Top 100 Prospects list".
  4. ^ Benbow, Julian (April 20, 2013). "Allen Webster to debut in doubleheader". boston.com. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  5. ^ "D-backs near deal for De La Rosa, Webster". MiLB.com. December 12, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  6. ^ "Story of former Red Sox pitcher Allen Webster a reminder of fickle nature of prospects - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  7. ^ "Pirates notebook: Acquisitions bolster depth in key areas".
  8. ^ Nesbitt, Stephen J. (December 18, 2015). "Pirates release Allen Webster". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  9. ^ Todd, Jeff (December 19, 2015). "Pirates To Release Allen Webster". mlb trade rumors. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  10. ^ Adams, Steve (November 17, 2016). "Minor MLB Transactions: 11/17/16". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  11. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 3/2/18".
  13. ^ "Cubs select RHP Allen Webster from Triple-A Iowa". MLB.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  14. ^ Adams, Steve (January 28, 2019). "Minor MLB Transactions: 1/28/19". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  15. ^ Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  16. ^ "Minor Signings: Barnes, Peterson, Stassi, Webster".
  17. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled".