Here’s a quick primer on right-handed pitcher Vance Worley: The third-round pick of the Phillies in last year’s draft, the 21-year-old Californian carries excellent control and a few average or above-average breaking pitches.
That in mind, Worley is currently 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA in six starts for the Reading Phillies. He has struck out 34 against walking just nine. This after spending his 2008 campaign with Williamsport (two games) and Lakewood (11 games).
Worley’s best start was yesterday against the Altoona Curve. In eight innings he allowed one run (an eighth-inning home run) on three hits while striking out six. A reader report at Phuture Phillies
relayed that Worley is throwing a cutter, slider and turtle-slow curve, mixing in a fastball that he’ll throw high with two strikes (a la Joe Blanton). Does a pitcher with prominent breaking stuff translate to major league success? It’s rare, but considering Worley’s numbers so far, there’s hope yet.
Tim MalcolmTim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.
