Vance Worley

Vance Richard Worley (born September 25, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Miami Marlins.

Worley has also represented Great Britain internationally.

After graduating from McClatchy 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 attended Cal State Long Beach (Long Beach State) and pitched for the 49ers baseball team.

In 2006, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

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 AA starts resulted in a 2.70 ERA over 103.3 innings, ending with a three-hit shutout on July 9.

Worley also started eight games for the Philadelphia's AAA club, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

His full-year minor league mark was 10–7 with a 3.36 ERA.

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 Rockies.

He was returned to the minors after the game to make room for J. A. Happ.

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 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).

On April 29, 2011, Worley was called up to the majors to be the team's fifth starter when Joe 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 the San Francisco Giants.

By September 8 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.

For much of the year, Worley was caught by Brian 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 its All-Rookie Team.

Worley finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind winner Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman.

In 2012 he was sent to the disabled list with a bone 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.

On December 6, 2012 he was traded, along with Trevor May, to the Minnesota Twins for Ben Revere.

On April 1, 2013, Worley made his first Opening Day start against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field in Minneapolis.

On May 22, 2013 he was sent down to Triple A Rochester 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.

He was outrighted off the roster on March 21, 2014.

On March 25, 2014, the Twins traded Worley to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.

He spent the first half of the season playing for the Pirates' AAA affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians, with whom he was 3–2 with a 4.30 ERA.