Top 100 San Diego Padres: #99 Tim Worrell

TIMOTHY HOWARD WORRELL | RP | 1993-1997 | CAREER STATS



Drafted by the Padres in the 20th round of the 1989 amateur entry draft out of Biola University, Worrell would spend four seasons in the minors before a solid showing in 1993 earned him a call-up. He would make his first Major League appearance as a reliever on June 25th at Jack Murphy Stadium against the visiting Reds. It wasn't terribly successful, as Worrell with 2 on and 2 out in the third would give up a three run home run to Kevin Mitchell. Those three runs were more than enough for the Reds' Tim Belcher who allowed only two runs in his complete game that day.

Tim was a below average pitcher in '93, but still had some value as an above replacement level player. It looked as though he might have more success his second time through the league having matched his previous season's production in his first three starts. Unfortunately, his season would be cut short by a torn elbow ligament, going in for Tommy John surgery on May 12, 1994 and not returning until September 1, 1995. Tim made nine relief appearances to close out the '95 season in unspectacular fashion.

1996 would mark the first time the Padres made the post season since 1984 and the reason Tim Worrell makes this list. At 28 years old and in a pennant race, Worrell had a career year. In his first full season back from surgery, Worrell was a solid 34% better than average at preventing runs and was worth nearly five wins relative to replacement. Only Trevor Hoffman was more valuable out of the bullpen for the Padres in 1996 and while Hoffy picked up three saves in the final series of the season, Tim was the winning pitcher in both of the games he appeared in. Unfortunately, the Padres were swept in the opening round of the playoffs, but Worrell and his 2.45 post season ERA weren't to blame.

Tim's next season wouldn't be nearly as productive as he would pitch 15 fewer innings over ten more games and would see his RA increase by more than two. It was only his second full year as a Padre and it would also be his last. Worrell was sent packing along with Trey Beamon in a trade that would net Donne Wall, Dan Miceli and Ryan Balfe from the Detroit Tigers the following off-season.