Guide Note

Jayson Werth is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Werth comes from a family of athletes. His mother Kim Schofield Werth competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the long jump and 100 meters. Werth's father Jeffrey J. Gowan played football for Illinois State University and baseball for the Johnson City Cardinals, affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals. His grandfather Ducky Schofield and uncle Dick Schofield played in the majors as infielders. Werth's mother then married his stepfather Dennis Werth who played first base and outfield for the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees.

Werth grew up in Illinois where he flourished in baseball at Glenwood High School, hitting fifteen home runs in thirty-one games his senior year. Werth signed a letter of intent at the University of Georgia but changed his plans when he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles on June 13, 1997.

Before making his major debut, Werth was traded by the Orioles to the Toronto Blue Jays allowing them to get their hands on pitcher John Bale. Werth finally made his major league debut on September 1, 2002 with the Blue Jays. Two years later Werth found himself traded again for Jason Frasor, a right handed relief pitcher to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Werth took a season off to recover from injuries and on December 19, 2006, he signed a one year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for a whopping $850,000. Werth was resigned by the Phillies 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 Victorino's absense.

During Werth's first two seasons in professional baseball, he spent most of his time playing for the Gulf Coast Orioles and Delmarva Shorebirds in Single A Minor League before moving to Double A 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.

March 2 2005, during spring training, Werth's left wrist was broken when he endured a hit by A.J. Burnett pitch. Following the season Werth underwent arthroscopic surgery revealing two torn ligaments. Despite the repair of the ligaments, Werth still suffered with uncomfortable pain leading to cortisone injections and casting for four weeks. Shortly after recooping he suffered another wrist injury that led to the one season off.

Fast Facts

1. Full Name: Jayson Richard Gowan Werth
2. Born: May 20, 1979
3. Birth Place: Springfield, Illinois
4. Height: 6' 5"
5. Weight: 225 lbs.
6. Position: Outfield
7. Debut: September 1, 2002
8. Bats: Right
9. Throws: Right
10. First major league hit was against David Wells