Scouting Report Vance Worley

Vance Worley
23 years old
2nd Major League Season (5 games/2 starts in 2010)
6'2" 230 pounds (was 205 pounds in 2010)
Bats R/Throws R

Profile: He was drafted in the 20th round out of high school in 2005, but went to Long Beach State for 3 years, after which he was then drafted by the Phillies in the 3rd round. He started 67 games coming into this year in the minors, and was 20-21 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. His K/9 rate was only 6.6 in the minors, but did throw a lot of strikes, with a 2.4 BB/9 rate. He was ranked #11 in the baseball america phillies prospect rankings.

Most Mets fans/baseball fans don't know Vance Worley, and I don't blame you. He was competing for the 5th starter job this spring when the Phillies were debating trading Joe Blanton, but was sent down to AAA, where he has started the year very well.  In 3 starts in AAA this year, he's 1-2, but with a 2.55 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.

Stuff: Worley's fastball sits between 88-92 and touches 94, with a solid slider (82-84 mph), an average curve (74 mph) and a change-up (85 mph) that he sometimes telegraphs by slowing his arm down. He throws strikes and works ahead in the count. He has some deception in his delivery which could give Mets hitters trouble seeing him for the 1st time.

Projection: He doesn't have a plus pitch and relies largely on command, his ceiling isn't that high (4th starter at best), but could be a back of the rotation pitcher making the league minimum.