Jump to content

Jayson Werth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Salcruz91 (talk | contribs) at 13:43, 25 May 2014. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jayson Werth
Werth at his introductory press conference with Washington
Washington Nationals – No. 28
Outfielder / Right fielder
Born: (1979-05-20) May 20, 1979 (age 45)
Springfield, Illinois
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
September 1, 2002, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Career statistics
(through May 24, 2014)
Batting average.274
Hits1,101
Home runs175
Runs batted in597
Runs655
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Jayson Richard Gowan Werth (born May 20, 1979) is an American Major League Baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals. He has previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies. He bats and throws right-handed.

Background

Werth was born in Springfield, Illinois. He is the son of Jeff Gowan, a collegiate baseball & football player who broke all the receiving records and led all Division I wide receivers in receptions while at Illinois State University,[citation needed] and played outfield in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system in 1978.[1] and Kim Schofield Werth, who competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the long jump and 100 meters. He is also the grandson of Ducky Schofield and nephew of Dick Schofield, both Major League Baseball infielders, and stepson of Dennis Werth, who played in parts of four seasons with the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees from 1979 through 1982. Werth is married with two children.[2]

Baseball career

Early career

Werth had a lot of success as a youngster, playing for the top youth traveling teams in Springfield, IL. His teams began traveling at 7 years old and dominated the State of Illinois Youth Baseball with 4 consecutive State Championships (never finishing worse than 4th in Nationals) in Khoury League with the Bunn Brewers. He then played for a National power, the Springfield Flame where Werth and his teammates won the State and Midwest Regional Championship and finished Third in the 1993 Sandy Koufax World Series in Spring, Texas behind Pico Rivera, California and a Dallas, Texas team that included Major Leaguer Vernon Wells. Werth also was selected to play for the U.S. Junior Pan Am Games in 1995. He gained more attention while attending Glenwood High School in Chatham, Illinois, where he compiled a .652 batting average in his senior year with 15 home runs in 31 games and also helped his team to State Championship in 1996 (his Junior year).[citation needed]

Werth initially planned on playing college baseball at the University of Georgia,[citation needed] but changed his plans when he was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft.

Toronto Blue Jays

Prior to making his major-league debut, the Orioles traded Werth to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher John Bale. Werth broke into the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On March 29, 2004, Werth was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jason Frasor after compiling two seasons in Toronto.

During spring training, on March 2, 2005, Werth was hit by a pitch from A.J. Burnett that broke his left wrist. Despite the injury, Werth was able to play in 102 games during the 2005 season, hitting .234 with 7 home runs (compared to 16 the previous year, in fewer at-bats). Eight months later, Werth underwent exploratory surgery which revealed two ligament tears that were repaired; however, his discomfort never subsided. On May 21, 2006, Werth had cortisone injected into his wrist; the wrist was placed in a cast for three to four weeks. These injury problems caused him to miss the entire 2006 season.

Philadelphia Phillies

Jayson Werth batting

On December 19, 2006, Werth signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

On June 28, 2007, Werth suffered another wrist injury, but returned August 2 against the Chicago Cubs and went 3-for-6, with 4 RBI and 1 stolen base.

Jayson Werth at Wrigley Field during a 2007 game vs. the Cubs.

In 2008, Werth began the season platooning with Geoff Jenkins in right field, but soon found himself playing every day in the early part of the season while regular center fielder Shane Victorino was on the disabled list. On May 16, he had a career night against the Blue Jays. He hit three home runs in one game, including a grand slam, a three-run home run, and a solo shot which put him one round-tripper short of hitting for the "homer cycle." He also tied the Phillies team record with 8 RBIs in one game.[3] For the season, he led the majors in home runs against left-handed pitchers, with 16.[4] On October 29, 2008, the Phillies won their second World Series title.

Despite being eligible for arbitration after the 2008 season, Werth agreed to a two-year contract with the Phillies worth $10 million on January 21, 2009.[5]

Werth with the Phillies

On May 12, 2009, Werth made a pure steal of home plate in a bases-loaded situation against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which came in the seventh inning after previously stealing both second and third base. Werth stole four bases in the game, leading the team to a 5–3 victory, and again tying a Phillies record.[6] On June 27, Werth became the 14th player in Toronto's Rogers Centre history to hit a home run into the stadium's 500 level. On July 10, Werth was named to the NL All-Star Team as a replacement for New York Mets' outfielder Carlos Beltran. On July 21, in a home game against the Chicago Cubs, Werth hit his first career walk-off home run, in the 13th inning against Jeff Samardzija, to deliver a 4–1 victory for the Phillies. He led the majors in pitches per plate appearance during the 2009 season, with 4.50.[7] In Game 5 of the 2009 National League Championship Series, Werth hit home runs in the first and seventh innings, in a game which the Phillies won 10–4, clinching the series. Baseball fans voted Werth the 2009 "Unsung Star of the Year" in MLB's This Year in Baseball Awards.[8]

Washington Nationals

Werth playing for the Nationals against the Baltimore Orioles in May 2011

On December 5, 2010, Werth signed a seven-year contract with the Washington Nationals worth $126 million, the 14th richest contract in baseball history. He was introduced to the media on December 15, 2010 with his number 28 jersey.[9]

Werth had a difficult 2011, highlighted by a June in which he had a .154 batting average, a .291 on-base percentage, and a .286 slugging percentage. On the season, Werth had a .232 batting average, with 20 home runs and 58 runs batted in.[10]

On May 6, 2012, Werth broke his left wrist attempting to make a diving catch against his old team, the Philadelphia Phillies. The wrist was the same one that had caused him to miss much of the 2005 season and all of 2006. While the injury was described as a "clean break," it was reported that Werth would consult with the same wrist specialist who treated him in 2005, to determine if there was any ligament damage. The next day, Werth underwent surgery on the left wrist.[11] After a three-month absence for recuperation, Werth returned to the Nationals' lineup on August 2. Werth batted primarily in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career, posting a .309 batting average and .388 OBP in that role.[12]

On October 11, 2012, Werth, to conclude a 13-pitch at bat, hit a 9th inning walk-off home run off Lance Lynn of the St. Louis Cardinals in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the game, 2–1, and tie the National League Divisional Series series at two games apiece.[13] Werth finished the 2012 season with a .300 batting average, 5 homers, and 31 runs driven in in 81 games.

As of August 11, 2013, Werth collected his 1,000 career hit. Werth finished the 2013 season batting .318 with 25 home runs and 82 RBI. Werth also finished 13th in the NL MVP voting. It marked the 3rd time in his career that Werth had garnered MVP votes.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jeff Gowan's minor league statistics – Baseball Reference". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  2. ^ "Jayson Werth: Biography and Career Highlights (2008)". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  3. ^ Mandel, Ken (2008-05-17). "Tripling his Werth". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  4. ^ "2008 Major League Baseball PH/HR/Situational Hitting". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  5. ^ "Phillies sign Werth, leaving Howard as lone arbitration case". USA Today. 30 April 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Daily Feed (05.13.09)". WMMR's Preston and Steve Podcast. 13 May 2009. {{cite episode}}: Check |episodelink= value (help); Check |serieslink= value (help); External link in |episodelink= and |serieslink= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ ""MLB Player Batting Stats – 2009," ''ESPN'', accessed October 9, 2009". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  8. ^ A new category was added in 2009, Unsung Star of the Year, with Werth being the inaugural winner. Go to 2009 This Year in Baseball Awards and click on "Unsung Star" for results and video. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  9. ^ "Nationals lure Werth with seven-year deal". MLB.com. 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  10. ^ "Jayson Werth Splits". ESPN.com. 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  11. ^ Wagner, James (May 7, 2012). "Jayson Werth breaks left wrist, could be out months". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  12. ^ Whyno, Stephen (October 3, 2012). "Jayson Werth finding new niche as Nationals' leadoff hitter". The Washington Times. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  13. ^ Svrluga, Barry (October 11, 2012). "Jayson Werth's walk-off home run powers Nationals to Game 5 against Cardinals". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 October 2012.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jayson Werth.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jayson_Werth&oldid=610071292"