Brandon Webb

Guide Note:

Brandon Webb is Major League baseball player who currently pitches for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Fast Facts

1. Born: May 9, 1979
2. Hometown: Ashland, Kentucky
3. School: University of Kentucky
4. MLB Draft: 2000, Arizona
5. All-star teams: 2
6. Cy Young Award: 2006
7. Best pitch: Sinker

A Kentucky native, Webb wasn't chosen by the Diamondbacks until the eighth round of the 2000 amateur draft. After being called up to replace injured starters Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2003, Webb earned a spot in the rotation by posting a 10-9 record and a 2.84 ERA, earning a third place berth in Rookie of the Year balloting. However, his sophomore year would be shaky; despite compiling an excellent 3.59 ERA and striking out 164, Webb lost 16 games. However, given that the team lost 111 games that season, Webb's won-loss record was about par for the course.

In 2005, Webb again posted impressive numbers, going 14-12, but in 2006 Webb became a household name. He went 8-0 through his first 13 starts to finish the season with a 16-8 record and a 3.10 ERA. His performance earned him the National League Cy Young Award for the season, edging out San Diego Padres closer Trevor Hoffman for the honor. His numbers in 2007 were arguably even better, but San Diego starter Jake Peavy beat him out, or else Webb would have won two Cy Youngs in a row. In 2008, Webb began the season in even better form than in 2006, going 8-0 in his first eight starts, the first pitcher to do so since Jon Garland did it for the Chicago White Sox in 2005, and the first pitcher in the National League to do it since Pedro Martinez in 1997.