Worthy of the call

UICFlames.com-- Senior right-handed pitcher Adam Worthington (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township H.S.) was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday, June 10.

Worthington was taken by Arizona with the 15th pick in the 20th round (606th selection overall).

Worthington was spectacular in his first season as a starting pitcher after spending the last three seasons as a late-inning specialist, including two stints as the Flames' closer. He finished 2009 with a 3.48 ERA, allowing just 37 earned runs in 95.2 innings, to go along with 73 strikeouts and just 21 walks issued en route to the 2009 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year award and All-Horizon League First Team honors.

The Gurnee native came into the 2009 season having thrown three-plus innings just eight times in three previous years at UIC. This past year he tossed three complete games, went seven innings or more on 10 occasions and turned in eight quality starts (at least six innings and no more than three earned runs allowed).

Worthington completed his collegiate career with the second-most appearances by a pitcher in a UIC uniform, taking the mound for the Flames 107 times from 2006-2009. He played a huge role in four consecutive Horizon League regular season titles, two League tournament championships and two trips to NCAA Regional play.

In addition to his accolades this season, Worthington also garnered Horizon League Relief Pitcher of the Year and All-League Second Team honors in 2008.

This marks the ninth consecutive year that a UIC player has gone on to the professional baseball ranks and the fourth straight year that a Flames player has been taken in the MLB Draft.

"I was telling my girlfriend that I've been dreaming of this since I was five-years-old,'' Worthington told the Lake Villa Review. "I'm just glad to get my foot in the door. I'm really, really excited.''

Worthington, who hit 94 on the speed gun this season, finished with a 3.48 ERA in 95 innings on the mound. He tossed three shutouts.

"This is more than I could have asked for,'' he said.