Todd Worrell was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland Athletics during his career. He was born on September 28, 1959, in Sacramento, California, and attended Biola University in La Mirada, California.
Worrell was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 1985 and quickly established himself as one of the best relief pitchers in the league. He was known for his fastball, which regularly reached speeds of over 95 miles per hour, and his devastating slider.
In his rookie season, Worrell helped lead the Cardinals to the National League pennant and a World Series appearance. He recorded 19 saves and a 2.08 earned run average (ERA) in 55 games. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year and finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting.
Worrell continued to be a dominant closer for the Cardinals over the next several seasons. He recorded 36 saves in 1986 and 33 saves in 1987, helping the team win the National League East division both years. He was named an All-Star in 1988 and 1989 and finished in the top ten in the Cy Young Award voting both years.
In 1990, Worrell suffered a serious elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire season and part of the 1991 season while recovering. When he returned, he was no longer the dominant closer he had been before the injury. He struggled with his control and his velocity was down.
The Cardinals traded Worrell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1993. He regained some of his form with the Dodgers, recording 32 saves in 1993 and 33 saves in 1994. He was named an All-Star in 1995 and finished the season with a 2.09 ERA and 32 saves.
Worrell signed with the Oakland Athletics as a free agent in 1996. He struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness in his one season with the team, recording just six saves and a 5.28 ERA in 34 games.
Worrell retired from baseball after the 1997 season. He finished his career with a record of 50-39, 256 saves, and a 3.03 ERA in 617 games. He was named an All-Star three times and won a World Series championship with the Cardinals in 1985.
After his playing career, Worrell worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams and served as the bullpen coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2004 to 2006. He currently works as a scout for the Boston Red Sox.
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