Tyrell Worthington Stats & Scouting Report

AB	349
AVG	.175
OBP	.258
SLG	.232
HR	1

Full name Tyrell Worthington
Born 08/02/1988 in Winterville, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School South Central
Drafted in the 5th round (163rd overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007 (signed for $220,000).

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Worthington was known primarily for his prowess on the football field prior to this spring. He was an all-state running back as a senior, amassing more than 2,500 yards rushing, and committed to play football at ECU. He shortened his swing and showed plus bat speed and raw power this spring. He uses his hands well through his swing and balls jump off his bat when he squares them up. He's also a 65 runner on the 20-80 scale, making for all the tools of an offensive-minded center fielder. Worthington doesn't command the strike zone, however, and his free-swinging approach needs refining. A patient team that believes in his projection could take Worthington in the fifth or sixth round, but he might be a tough sign for slot money in that range.

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Worthington was a football-first athlete in high school, and the Diamondbacks swayed him from an East Carolina football commitment by signing him to a $220,000 bonus. They knew he would be a project, but it has turned out to be a bigger undertaking than they expected because he has Graves' disease. It's a chronic hyperthyroid disorder that caused Worthington to lose weight and strength; doctors diagnosed the problem after the 2007 season and began treating it with medication. He remained in extended spring training for much of the season, working to get back into playing shape, and finally showed the same body and athleticism as his high school days by the end of the summer. Worthington is a driven player who worked hard to get back into shape and has the same drive to get to the big leagues. He has good hands, though he'll need lots of at-bats and instruction to put his raw strength into full use at the plate. He's an above-average runner with an average arm, so he should be able to handle center field. Worthington shows flashes, and now that he's healthy he'll get the opportunity to put together some at-bats with a full-season club.
Worthington looked like a likely college football player after his senior season in high school, when he rushed for 2,591 yards and committed to East Carolina. Most teams considered him a tough sign, but the Diamondbacks got a good read on his commitment to baseball and what it would take to get him under contract. They took him in the fifth round and signed him for $220,000, which was above MLB's slot recommendation but wasn't a bank-breaker by any means. Worthington profiles as a center fielder with legitimate power if everything comes together for him, but that's going to take patience. After watching him in action in a brief stint at short-season Missoula and in instructional league, Arizona saw a lot of bad swings but also signs that he uses his hands well and can put a charge in the ball. He's obviously athletic and is an above-average runner, drawing comparisons to Chris Young. Worthington is also raw in center field, but there too he has the tools, including an average arm, to be a strong defender. He'll probably open the 2008 season in extended spring training before reporting to Yakima. It will be a slow road, but he has as much upside as anyone in the organization.