Vance Worley
Encyclopedia
Vance Richard Worley nicknamed "The Vanimal", is an American professional baseball
pitcher
with the Philadelphia Phillies
of Major League Baseball
.
(Long Beach State), and pitched for the 49ers baseball team
.
In 2008, Worley was again selected by the Phillies, this time in the third round (102nd overall) of the MLB amateur draft.
In 2009, Worley moved up to the Double-A Reading Phillies
; his record was 7–12 with a 5.34 ERA.
After two poor starts to begin the 2010 season, Worley's next 17 starts resulted in a 2.70 ERA over 103.3 innings, ending with a three-hit shutout on July 9.
. He pitched the ninth inning, retiring the side in order and striking out two. He was returned to the minors after the game to make room for J.A. Happ on the Phillies' active roster.
On September 6, Worley was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley
, and added to the active roster
as a September callup. He made his first Major League start
that day, pitching in the first game of a doubleheader
against the Florida Marlins
. Worley pitched well, allowing only two runs on six hits while striking out five, however the Phillies offense failed to give him any run support
, getting only three hits against Marlins rookie Adalberto Méndez
. Worley was lifted in the bottom of the fifth inning for pinch hitter
Domonic Brown, and the Phillies went on to lose the game, 7–1. Worley earned his first major league win against the Washington Nationals
on September 19 of the same year while pitching in relief. He finished the 2010 season with a 1 and 1 record and 1.38 ERA in 5 games (2 starts).
was put on the disabled list. He made his first start that day pitching a 6 inning shutout, as the Phillies went on to win, 10–3, giving Worley the win. He continued to pitch well, winning his second start allowing only four hits, walking none, and striking out seven in allowing only one run in six innings. Proving he can hit as well as pitch, Worley went 2 for 4 with an RBI in his first two starts. On May 16, 2011, Vance Worley was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley in order for him to remain a starting pitcher following Roy Oswalt
's return from the disabled list.
Worley was once again called up to the majors on May 22, following Blanton's return to the disabled list. After a poor start against the New York Mets
, allowing 5 earned runs (8 total) in 2 innings, Worley was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley in order for Mike Zagurski to be called up to the major leagues.
In mid-June, Worley was called back up to the Majors to start after three strong starts in triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Vance threw his first career complete game on July 26, versus the San Francisco Giants
. He allowed 3 hits, a walk, and two runs, both earned, including a home run to former Phillies outfielder Aaron Rowand, while striking out five.
Vance continued to pitch well and by September 8, 2011, he had a 11–1 record and a 2.85 earned run average in 20 games (18 starts). At that time the Phillies won each of his 14 previous starts, including games where Worley did not receive a decision. But after losing two of his next 3 starts, Worley was relegated to the bullpen for the remainder of the season. He closed the season with an 11–3 record and a 3.01 ERA.
Baseball America named Worley as one of the five starting pitchers on its All-Rookie Team.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Early career
After graduating from McClatchy High School in Sacramento, Worley was drafted by the Phillies in 2005, in the 20th round, but he decided to go to college instead. He attended Cal State Long BeachCalifornia State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
(Long Beach State), and pitched for the 49ers baseball team
Long Beach State 49ers baseball
The Long Beach State 49ers Baseball team is the college baseball program that represents California State University, Long Beach. Unlike all other Long Beach State sports teams, since 1989 the baseball team has unofficially gone by the name The Dirtbags....
.
In 2008, Worley was again selected by the Phillies, this time in the third round (102nd overall) of the MLB amateur draft.
In 2009, Worley moved up to the Double-A Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
; his record was 7–12 with a 5.34 ERA.
After two poor starts to begin the 2010 season, Worley's next 17 starts resulted in a 2.70 ERA over 103.3 innings, ending with a three-hit shutout on July 9.
2010
Worley was called up to the majors for the first time on July 21, 2010. He made his major league debut on July 24, 2010, against the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. He pitched the ninth inning, retiring the side in order and striking out two. He was returned to the minors after the game to make room for J.A. Happ on the Phillies' active roster.
On September 6, Worley was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
, and added to the active roster
Major League Baseball rosters
A Major League Baseball roster is a roster of players able to play for their respective Major League team. There are two types of rosters, the 25-man roster and the 40-man roster.-25-man roster:...
as a September callup. He made his first Major League start
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
that day, pitching in the first game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. Worley pitched well, allowing only two runs on six hits while striking out five, however the Phillies offense failed to give him any run support
Run support
Run support is a baseball statistic used to assess a starting pitcher's good fortune. It measures how many runs were scored by his team on average when he starts. It is considered a somewhat important statistic because a team earn wins by holding its opponents to fewer runs than it scores...
, getting only three hits against Marlins rookie Adalberto Méndez
Adalberto Méndez
Adalberto Méndez is a professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball debut for the Florida Marlins in 2010....
. Worley was lifted in the bottom of the fifth inning for pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
Domonic Brown, and the Phillies went on to lose the game, 7–1. Worley earned his first major league win against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
on September 19 of the same year while pitching in relief. He finished the 2010 season with a 1 and 1 record and 1.38 ERA in 5 games (2 starts).
2011
On April 29, 2011, Worley was called up to the majors to be the team's fifth starter when Joe BlantonJoe Blanton
Joseph Matthew Blanton is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
was put on the disabled list. He made his first start that day pitching a 6 inning shutout, as the Phillies went on to win, 10–3, giving Worley the win. He continued to pitch well, winning his second start allowing only four hits, walking none, and striking out seven in allowing only one run in six innings. Proving he can hit as well as pitch, Worley went 2 for 4 with an RBI in his first two starts. On May 16, 2011, Vance Worley was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley in order for him to remain a starting pitcher following Roy Oswalt
Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
's return from the disabled list.
Worley was once again called up to the majors on May 22, following Blanton's return to the disabled list. After a poor start against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, allowing 5 earned runs (8 total) in 2 innings, Worley was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley in order for Mike Zagurski to be called up to the major leagues.
In mid-June, Worley was called back up to the Majors to start after three strong starts in triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Vance threw his first career complete game on July 26, versus the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He allowed 3 hits, a walk, and two runs, both earned, including a home run to former Phillies outfielder Aaron Rowand, while striking out five.
Vance continued to pitch well and by September 8, 2011, he had a 11–1 record and a 2.85 earned run average in 20 games (18 starts). At that time the Phillies won each of his 14 previous starts, including games where Worley did not receive a decision. But after losing two of his next 3 starts, Worley was relegated to the bullpen for the remainder of the season. He closed the season with an 11–3 record and a 3.01 ERA.
Baseball America named Worley as one of the five starting pitchers on its All-Rookie Team.