STANDOUT RELIEVER WORT SOLD TO ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 12, 2014, 0 Comments
Courtesy Matt Krause,
Rob Wort’s stay in Independent baseball wasn’t very long. The current Sioux City Explorers right-hander and former Washington Nationals farmhand is headed to the Arizona Diamondbacks system. Wort (pictured) will report to the Hillsboro Hops in the Short Season Class A Northwest League. The Hops are in the midst of a road series at the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
Wort was 2-1 with a miniscule 0.97 ERA in 24 games, all relief appearances, for Sioux City. In 37 innings, he stuck out 58 and walked only 14. His season high in strikeouts came in a three-inning appearance against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on August 1 in Sioux City when he fanned seven. In his last 22 appearances, Wort has allowed only one earned run.
Before coming to Sioux City, Wort spent five seasons in the Nationals’ system, working exclusively as a relief pitcher. After beginning his pro career with the Gulf Coast League Nationals in 2009, his best season ERA wise came in 2010. Wort split that year between the Class A Hagerstown Suns and Class A Advanced Potomac Nationals, carrying a 1.92 ERA and striking out 64 in 51 and 2/3 innings with eight saves. He spent the entirety of the 2011 and 2012 seasons with Potomac.
In 2012, Wort struck out 95 in 56 and 2/3 innings with 13 saves and a 2.38 ERA for the Nationals. Wort’s final season in the Washington organization came in 2013, which he split between Potomac and the Class AA Harrisburg Senators.
The St. Charles, Missouri native attended Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri and was picked in the 30th round of the 2009 draft.
He becomes the fourth American Association player to be picked up by the Diamondbacks this season, a list that includes a former Explorers teammate, INF Nate Samson.
