University of Georgia left-hander Ryan Webb has been named a 2021 preseason first team All-American by Baseball America, it was announced Monday.
Webb, a 6-1, 202-pound junior native of Roswell, Ga., made the All-America team as a relief pitcher. Baseball America annually polls major league organizations’ scouting departments to vote on the 14-member team and asks that they make their selections based on performance, talent and professional potential. In the past, the Baseball America Preseason All-America team has been a predictor both of the first round of the draft and of team success.
Eleven members of the 2020 Baseball America preseason first-team became first-round picks last June, including the first seven picks. In all, 16 of the 29 first-round picks were preseason All-Americans. The All-America first team features eight position players, a utility player, four starting pitchers and one reliever.
In 2020, Webb served as Georgia’s closer and was dominating. He went 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA and one save, registering 26 strikeouts and only five walks in 15 innings pitched (IP). In his Bulldog career, Webb is 4-5 with a 3.77 ERA and six saves in 44 appearances including seven starts. He has 101 strikeouts and 45 walks in 93 innings.
For 2021, Webb is slated to be a part of Georgia’s starting rotation along with veteran left-hander C.J. Smith and right-hander Jonathan Cannon. Smith is one of just eight current pitchers in the Southeastern Conference with a career sub 4.00 ERA and 100+ IP innings. Smith arrived at Georgia as a pitcher/outfielder and did both for two years before focusing his talents on the mound last season. He has made 29 career appearances including 18 starts going 4-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 101.1 innings. Cannon made his Bulldog debut last year, posting a 3-0 mark in 11.1 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts to earn Freshman All-America distinction.
It is the second time this preseason that Webb has been honored after he was selected a third team All-American by Perfect Game/Rawlings. Cannon was named a 2021 preseason third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
The Bulldogs, under the direction of Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin, have been nationally ranked as high as No. 12 in the preseason. Georgia will open the season Feb. 19 at Foley Field against Evansville. The Bulldogs welcome back 20 returning lettermen including six starters around the diamond and 10 pitchers who saw action last year.
Stricklin will be featured from 8-9 p.m. on Bulldogs Live Monday talking baseball with Jeff Dantzler. Fans can tune in through georgiadogs.com via the All-Access player or the Georgia Bulldogs app.