In an effort to add minor depth, the New York Mets have purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Vance Worley from the Kane County Cougars of the independent American Association, the team announced Wednesday.
Worley, nicked named the Vanimal, will be shipped to the Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets.
Cougars Manager George Tsamis could not be happier for the Long Beach State University alumnus who he said served a mentor to younger Kane County hurlers.
“Vance is a great person and was a great teammate for our guys,” Cougars Manager George Tsamis said in a press release. “He was great with the younger pitchers and he did a really good job for us. We are so happy for him to get this opportunity to go to Triple-A with the Mets. He had a long road back and now he is one step away from pitching in the Big Leagues again.”
Worley, who signed with Kane County on April 26, is playing in his ninth season of professional baseball. Over his five appearances with the Cougars, the Sacramento, California, native compiled a 2-2 record with a 4.01 ERA while striking out 27 batters over 33.2 innings of work.
“Kane County made my experience even better,” Worley said. “I was part of a great group of teammates and I pitched for a manager who helped make the game fun for me again as did the support of the fans. I am thankful for the opportunity that George gave me here in Kane County.”
Worley, 33, made his Major League debut for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 and pitched for the team for the first three seasons of his MLB career, accumulating an 18-13 record. For his Major League career, Worley owns a 4.09 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP with a 6.7 SO/9 in 667.0 innings pitched.
He finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2011 after he went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 25 contests (21 starts).
–Jerry Del Priore
Brooklyn Sports World/NY NJ Sports World 