| Vance Worley | |
|---|---|
 Worley with the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1987-09-25)September 25, 1987 (age 37) Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 24, 2010, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 2017, for the Miami Marlins | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 35–36 |
| Earned run average | 4.09 |
| Strikeouts | 497 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Vance Richard Worley (born September 25, 1987) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePhiladelphia Phillies,Minnesota Twins,Pittsburgh Pirates,Baltimore Orioles, andMiami Marlins. Worley has also representedGreat Britain internationally.
After graduating fromMcClatchy High School in Sacramento, California, Worley was drafted by the Phillies in 2005, in the 20th round, but decided to go to college instead. He attendedCal State Long Beach (Long Beach State) and pitched for the49ers baseball team.[1][2] In 2006, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theChatham A's of theCape Cod Baseball League.[3][4]
In 2008, Worley was again selected by the Phillies, this time in the third round (102nd overall) of theMLB amateur draft.[5]
In 2009, Worley moved up to the Double-AReading Phillies; his record was 7–12 with a 5.34 ERA.[1]
After two poor starts to begin the 2010 season, Worley's next 17 AA starts resulted in a 2.70 ERA over 103.3 innings, ending with a three-hit shutout on July 9.[1] Worley also started eight games for the Philadelphia's AAA club, theLehigh Valley IronPigs. His full-year minor league mark was 10–7 with a 3.36 ERA.[6]
Worley was called up to the majors for the first time on July 21, 2010.[5] He made his major league debut on July 24, against theColorado Rockies. He was returned to the minors after the game to make room forJ. A. Happ.[7] On September 6, Worley was recalled fromTriple-ALehigh Valley, and added to theactive roster as aSeptember callup.[8] He made his first Major Leaguestart that day, pitching in the first game of adoubleheader against theFlorida Marlins.[9] Worley earned his first major league win against theWashington Nationals on September 19 of the same year while pitching in relief. He finished the 2010 season with a 1-1 record and 1.38 ERA in 5 games (2 starts).
On April 29, 2011, Worley was called up to the majors to be the team's fifth starter whenJoe Blanton was put on the disabled list. He made his first start that day pitching 6 shutout innings and getting the win. He won his second start. Worley went 2-for-4 with a RBI in his first two starts. Vance threw his first career complete game on July 26, versus theSan Francisco Giants. By September 8 the Phillies won each of his 14 previous starts, including games where Worley did not receive a decision.[10] 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. For much of the year, Worley was caught byBrian Schneider, the Phillies backup catcher. Worley's ERA was a full run lower when Schneider was his battery mate.Baseball America named Worley one of the five starting pitchers on itsAll-Rookie Team.[11] Worley finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind winnerCraig Kimbrel andFreddie Freeman.
In 2012, Worley was sent to the disabled list with abone chip in his elbow. His surgery to remove it was scheduled to be after the season, but after unsuccessful months of July and August, Worley was shut down for the season and sent to the DL for his surgery. In 2012 he was 6–9 with a 4.20 ERA.[12]
On December 6, 2012, he was traded, along withTrevor May, to theMinnesota Twins forBen Revere.[13] On April 1, 2013, Worley made his first Opening Day start against theDetroit Tigers atTarget Field inMinneapolis. On May 22, 2013, he was sent down to Triple ARochester Red Wings for control problems. He finished his lone season with the Twins 1–5 with a career-high 7.21 ERA in 10 starts, as in 48.2 innings he gave up 82 hits.[14] He was outrighted off the roster on March 21, 2014.
On March 25, 2014, the Twins traded Worley to thePittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.[15] He spent the first half of the season playing for the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, theIndianapolis Indians, with whom he was 3–2 with a 4.30 ERA.[12] Worley made his first start for the Pirates on June 15.
After beginning the 2015 season in the starting rotation as a replacement forCharlie Morton who was on the DL, Worley was returned to the bullpen as a reliever upon Morton's return. Worley wasdesignated for assignment by the Pirates on July 30 to make room for Joe Blanton, acquired in a trade with theKansas City Royals. He was outrighted back to the Indianapolis Indians on August 7 after clearing waivers.[16] For the Pirates, in 2015 he was 4–6 with a 4.02 ERA.[12]
On October 20, 2015, Worley was claimed off waivers by theBaltimore Orioles from the Pirates.[17] Worley made the Orioles'Opening Day roster and was the starter for their fifth game of the season. In 35 appearances (4 starts) for Baltimore, he compiled a 2-2 record and 3.53 ERA with 56 strikeouts across86+2⁄3 innings pitched. On December 2, 2016, Worley was non-tendered by the Orioles, making him a free agent.[18]
Worley signed a minor league contract with theWashington Nationals on January 28, 2017. Under the terms of the deal, he participated in major league spring training and could have received a $1 million salary if promoted to the major league roster, along with $1.65 million more in possible incentives.[19] However, Worley was released toward the end of the Nationals' spring training on March 29, 2017.[20]
On April 2, 2017, Worley signed a minor league contract with theMiami Marlins.[21] In Triple-A with New Orleans, he was 2–5 with a 4.43 ERA and 22 strikeouts.[12] Worley struggled flipping in between the rotation and the bullpen for Miami, going 2–6 and pitching to a 6.91 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 24 games (12 starts).[14] On October 7, Worley was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-ANew Orleans Zephyrs.
On January 9, 2018, Worley signed a minor league deal that included an invite to spring training with theCincinnati Reds.[22] On April 3, Worley exercised the opt-out clause in his contract with the Reds, making him a free agent.[23]
On April 19, 2018, Worley signed a minor league contract with theNew York Mets.[24] He made just four starts for the Triple-ALas Vegas 51s before he was placed on the disabled list, and was later released on June 22.[25]
On March 26, 2020, Worley signed with theSomerset Patriots of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[26] He did not play a game for the team because of the cancellation of the ALPB season due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and became a free agent after the year.
On April 26, 2021, Worley signed with theKane County Cougars of theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball.[27] Worley recorded a 2–2 record and 4.01 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 5 appearances with the Cougars.
On June 23, 2021, Worley's contract was purchased by theNew York Mets organization.[28]
On May 5, 2022, Worley signed with theKane County Cougars of theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball.[29] He made 18 starts and went 6–9 with a 4.89 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 114 innings. Worley was released by the Cougars on September 13.
Worley was selected to representGreat Britain at the2023 World Baseball Classic qualification.[30]
Worley throws four pitches routinely. His primary pitch, afour-seam fastball runs 89–92 mph. He also has atwo-seam fastball at 88–92, and his main off-speed pitch is a slider at 85–87 mph. Worley also sometimes adds acurveball in the mid-to-upper 70s. On rare occasions, he also features a changeup against left-handed hitters.[31]
Worley's mother, Shirley, is Chinese. She was born inHong Kong and moved to the United States as a child. His father's name is Scott.[2] He lives in Philadelphia.[32]
His nickname is "The Vanimal."[33][1]
