Guide Note:Jayson Werth is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He comes from a family of athletes starting with his mother who who competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the long jump and 100 meters. His grandfather Ducky Schofield, his uncle Dick Schofield and his stepfather Dennis Werth all played Major League Baseball. Growing up in Illinois he flourished in baseball at Glenwood HIgh School hitting fifteen home runs in thirty-one games his senior season. He signed a letter of intent at the University of Geogia but was then changed plans when drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. During his first two seasons in professional baseball Werth spent most of his time playing for the Gulf Coast Orioles and Delmarva Shorebirds in Single A Minor League Baseball before moving to Double A baseball playing for the Bowie Baysox. He continued much of his playing through the 2000 season with the Baysox. In 2001 Werth bounced back and forth between the Dundein Blue Jays and the Tennessee Smokies where he hit .271 with 20 home runs and 83 runs batted in. After spending most of the 2002 season with the Syracuse Chiefs he made his major league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on September 1 against the New York Yankees. His first major league hit was against David Wells. The 2003 season saw him play 26 games with the Toronto Blu Jays hitting 2 home runs with 10 runs batted in. The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Werth before the 2004 season and Werth went on to have his best season hitting 15 home runs and driving in 44 runs in 69 games. He was named the starting leftfielder entering the 2005 season but battled injuries which limited him to 102 games. Following the season he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his wrist putting him out for the entire 2006 season. The Philadelphia Phillies signed Werth to a one year contact at the end of 2006. Over a 2 game stretch against the San Diego Padres and New York Mets he had hits in 9 consecutive plate appearances, bettering the mark the Pete Rose set in 1979. Werth was resigned for the 2008 season to platoon in the outfield with Geoff Jenkins. After an early season injury to Shane Victorino Werth has found extra playing time starting in centerfield in his absense.
Fast Facts:
- Born: May 20, 1979 in Springfield, Illinois
- Full Name: Jayson Richard Gowan Werth
- Height: 6' 5"
- Weight: 225 lbs.
- Position: Outfield
- Debut: September 1, 2002
- Bats: Right
- Throws: Right
- Career Home Runs: 34
- Career Runs Batted In: 160
- Career Batting Average: .262
