Two Young Pitchers Who Phils May Need This Year Are Sent Down

Remember these two names, Mike Stutes and Vance Worley. They’re young pitchers who were assigned to the minors yesterday, but we could be depending on them on the Phillies staff in the not too distant future. Brad Lidge is already having arm problems and you know how delicate Major League pitching arms are nowadays.

Stutes who had a great spring and Worley who struggled a bit this spring will be pitching for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs this summer.

“Those two are legitimate guys who could help this club someday,” pitching coach Rich Dubee told Philly.com’s Matt Gelb.

“I think I made the best of my opportunity,” Stutes told. “Hopefully I made some impressions. Hopefully I’ll get a chance as soon as possible.”

Stutes was converted to a reliever and had a great spring. He gave up only one run in nine innings. The key was his control because he struck out nine batters but only walked one. I think we’re going to see him because Dubee said they need relievers who can pitch more than one inning.

“He’s much more under control than last year when we did see him in some games,” Dubee said. “His command was better. His angle was better. So he left with a very good impression.”

Dubee told Gelb that Worley was trying to do too much because this was his first time in a Major League camp with a chance to make the club.

“For the first time in his career he had a chance to make a team,” Dubee said. “I think he pressed a little bit. Last year, he came up and there weren’t any expectations. He was a guy we needed. He could step in carefree and just go with it.”

Worley pitched 9 1/3 innings for the Phils this spring and allowed four runs on nine hits while surrendering four walks.