Cleveland Baseball Insider

Guardians To Promote Bibee For MLB Debut

Tanner Bibee one of the Cleveland Guardians top pitching prospects will make his MLB debut today vs the Rockies

Todd Paquette

Bryan Kuhn
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The Cleveland Guardians 24-year-old prospect Tanner Bibee has risen quickly through the system making only 28 minor league starts since being drafted in the 5th round out of Cal State Fullerton in 2021. His dream comes true today as he will start vs the Rockies making his professional debut.

The Guardians had Bibee sit out the 2021 season after being drafted and opted for him to begin his career after a full off-season and spring training in 2022.

Bibee would start make his pro-debut with High-A Lake County making 12 starts posting a 2-1 record with 2.59 ERA over 59.0 innings pitched. Bibee would strikeout 86 batters and allow just 13 walks over the 59.0 innings.

His strong start would earn him a promotion to Double-A Akron on July 2nd. The move from A-Ball to Double-A is usually a tough transition for a lot of pitchers but not for Bibee who only put-up better numbers at Akron.

In 13 starts with the RubberDucks Bibee would go 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA over 73.2 innings pitched. He would strikeout 81 batters to just 14 walks allowed while holding opponents to a .194 batting average. He would post a ridiculous 0.88 WHIP over the 73.2 innings.

Overall, he would finish 8-2 with a 2.17 ERA while striking out 167 batters over 132.2 innings pitched. He would allow just 27 walks, 101 hits and a WHIP under 1.00 at 0.96 with batters hitting for just a .211 average against him.

He would show off his strike throwing ability leading the Guardians farm system in SO/BB ratio at 6.19 and BB/9 at just 1.83.

Bibee would finish second in the farm system in strikeouts with 167 on the season only trailing Logan Allen who would strikeout 177 on the year. He would also finish second in the system in FIP at 2.80 only behind Jack Leftwich's leading 2.49 mark.

He would also finish the year third in ERA amongst all qualified pitchers in the organization at 2.17, WHIP at 0.96 and SO% at 32.4%.

The Guardians would assign Bibee to Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2023 season despite only making 12 starts at the Double-A level in 2022.

Bibee in three Triple-A starts with the Clippers this season posted a 1.76 ERA over 15.1 innings pitched while striking out 19 batters limiting opponents to a .151 batting average. 

Overall, in his 28-career minor league starts Bibee has collected 186 strikeouts over 148.0 innings pitched walking just 35 batters while posting a 2.13 ERA across three levels.

Tanner offers a four-pitch mix that includes a plus fastball sits mid 90's and can touch upper 90's, a plus slider that is his best off-speed pitch as well as a changeup and curveball. Bibee's command of the fastball may be his best attribute and he fills the zone with all four of his offerings.

Bibee's meteoric rise from fifth round pick to now one of the top arms in the entire farm system is a credit to the work he has put in and the terrific job the Guardians development team does year in and year out with their young pitchers.

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Read More:

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A Chance To Get Back On Track, Guardians Vs. Rockies Series Preview

The Marlins Exposed One Of The Guardians' Biggest Weaknesses

Here To Stay, Logan Allen Shines In MLB Debut With Guardians

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Todd Paquette
TODD PAQUETTE

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