Daniel Weston Worth (born September 30, 1985) is an American baseball coach and former professional baseball infielder. He is an assistant baseball coach at Pepperdine University. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for fhe Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros, and in the KBO League for the SK Wyverns.

Danny Worth
Worth with the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium
Infielder
Born: (1985-09-30) September 30, 1985 (age 39)
Northridge, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: May 16, 2010, for the Detroit Tigers
KBO: April 1, 2017, for the SK Wyverns
Last appearance
MLB: July 24, 2016, for the Houston Astros
KBO: April 4, 2017, for the SK Wyverns
MLB statistics
Batting average.223
Home runs2
Runs batted in20
KBO statistics
Batting average.111
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Primarily a shortstop, Worth has also played second base and third base in the major and minor leagues.

Early life

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Worth was born in Northridge, California. He attended Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, California.[1]

Education

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Worth attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where he was a member of the baseball team from 2005-07.[2] Worth was named a preseason All-American during his junior season and was also named an All-West Coast Conference selection all three of his seasons. He hit .320 for his career with seven home runs and 108 RBI. He was a member of two WCC-championship winning teams and played in three NCAA Tournaments.[3]

Career

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Worth was drafted by the Tigers in the second round (91st overall) of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.[1] He played in the minor leagues for the Lakeland Flying Tigers (A), the Erie SeaWolves (AA), and the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA). He was named the 8th best prospect in the Tigers system for the 2008 season by Baseball America.[4] The same publication also listed him as the best defensive infielder.[4]

Detroit Tigers

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Worth was called up on May 16, 2010.[5] He appeared in his first Major League game that afternoon, replacing Scott Sizemore at second base when the Tigers sent Sizemore down to Triple-A. In his first major league at-bat Worth hit an infield single with the bases loaded and two outs, picking up his first major league hit and RBI.[6] He was called up again on June 6 to replace Adam Everett in the lineup, who was designated for assignment on that date.[7] Worth ultimately appeared in 39 games, mostly at shortstop.[8]

Worth hit his first major league home run on July 7, 2010, against the Baltimore Orioles.[9]

Worth entered the 2011 season as a candidate for playing time as a utility infielder. He ultimately appeared in 30 games at the major league level, often appearing as a defensive replacement at second or third base.[10]

In 2012, Worth entered spring as a candidate for a utility infielder job, and made the opening day roster for the first time in his career.[11] On April 13, he was optioned to the Toledo Mud Hens when Brandon Inge returned from the disabled list. Worth was recalled on April 28 when Delmon Young was placed on the restricted list.[12]

Worth was the last player cut from the Tigers' roster at the end of spring training in 2013. He was optioned to the Mud Hens.[13]

On December 13, 2013, the Tigers designated Worth for assignment after the signing of pitcher Joba Chamberlain.[14] He cleared waivers on December 16 and was assigned to AAA Toledo.[15] His contract was purchased by the Tigers on April 20, 2014 to replace Álex González, who was released.[16]

On May 22, 2014, the Tigers were trailing the Texas Rangers 9–2 after eight innings when Worth entered the game as a pitcher for the first time in his career. Using mainly knuckleballs, Worth allowed one hit and struck out two to retire the side in the top of the ninth inning. He became the first Tiger position player to pitch a full inning since Mark Koenig in 1931.[17][18]

Worth was designated for assignment by the Tigers on June 4, allowing the Tigers to bring up Eugenio Suárez from Triple-A Toledo.[19] He cleared waivers and was sent to Triple-A Toledo on June 6.[20] Worth elected free agency on October 12, 2014.[21]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On December 15, 2014, he signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[22]

Houston Astros

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He joined the Houston Astros for the 2016 season, signing a minor league contract on January 26.[23]

SK Wyverns

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On November 16, 2016, Worth signed with the SK Wyverns of the KBO League in South Korea.[24] He was released by the Wyverns after going 1-for-9 in 3 games.

Coaching

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In July 2018, Worth became an Assistant Coach at Pepperdine University.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b Osborne, Cary (May 23, 2010). "Love the glove". The-signal.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  2. ^ Kornacki, Steve (May 17, 2010). "New Tigers infielder Danny Worth recalls Pamela Anderson at Pepperdine games". MLive.com. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "Danny Worth - Baseball Coach". Pepperdine University Athletics. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Paul, Jon (January 18, 2008). "Prospects: Rankings: Organization Top 10 Prospects: Detroit Tigers". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  5. ^ Seidel, Jeff (May 28, 2014). "Detroit Tigers' Danny Worth just happy to be in majors, doing whatever, for as long as possible". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  6. ^ "Santiago homers as Tigers take two of three from Red Sox". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 4, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  7. ^ Zuba, Samuel (June 6, 2010). "Everett gets designated for assignment – Worth called up from Triple-A Toledo for Tuesday in Chicago". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  8. ^ "Danny Worth". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  9. ^ "Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers – Box Score – July 7, 2010". ESPN. July 7, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  10. ^ "Danny Worth Standard Fielding". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "Opening Day lineup: Prince Fielder makes Detroit Tigers debut, Justin Verlander takes mound". Mlive. April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  12. ^ Beck, Jason. "Tigers place Young on restricted list". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  13. ^ Sipple, George (March 28, 2013). "Tigers send Danny Worth to Toledo to complete 25-man roster". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  14. ^ Adams, Steve (December 13, 2013). "Tigers Designate Danny Worth For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  15. ^ Schmehl, James (December 16, 2013). "Detroit Tigers' Danny Worth, Luis Marte outrighted to Triple-A Toledo after clearing waivers". Chat Sports. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  16. ^ "Tigers release Gonzalez, call up Worth". MLB.com. April 20, 2014. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014.
  17. ^ "Danny Worth, yes Danny Worth, strikes out two in pitching appearance". clickondetriot.com. May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  18. ^ Slovin, Matt (May 22, 2014). "Worth debuts knuckleball in rare mound appearance". MLB.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  19. ^ "Tigers rule Iglesias out for season". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 4, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  20. ^ "Tigers outright IF Danny Worth to Triple-A Toledo". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  21. ^ Creech, Edward (October 12, 2014). "Minor Moves: Reimold, Wilson, Cedeno, Bianchi, Pagnozzi". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  22. ^ Fenech, Anthony (December 15, 2014). "Danny Worth signs minor-league deal with Diamondbacks". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  23. ^ "Astros sign lefty Wandy Rodriguez to minor league contract". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  24. ^ "Baseball club signs ex-MLB infielder". Yonhap News Agency. November 16, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  25. ^ "Danny Worth". pepperdinewaves.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
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