D'backs pick Warren grads Wolcott, Worthington

Andrew Wolcott and Adam Worthington were high school classmates and baseball teammates at Warren, graduating in 2005.

Maybe the two right-handed pitchers will be professional teammates again in the near future.

Both players were selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday, after each put together a strong senior season in college.

Arizona picked Duke University's Wolcott in the 17th round (516th overall), then got the University of Illinois-Chicago's Worthington in the 20th round (606th overall).

Wolcott is a 6-foot-6, 240-pounder who, according to Duke's Web site, put together arguably one of the best seasons by a starting pitcher in Duke history when he led the Blue Devils' starting rotation with an 8-3 record, a 2.77 ERA and 94.1 innings pitched. A first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference choice, Wolcott was one of the most reliable starters in the ACC, as he put together a 3.17 ERA against conference competition. Even more impressive was his resume against top-25 competition, as he went 5-0 with a 2.66 ERA in six starts.

According to UIC's Web site, 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.

The 5-10, 190-pounder finished 2009 with a 3.48 ERA in 95.2 innings, striking out 73 sand walking just 21 en route to being named the Horizon League pitcher of the year earning all-league first team honors.

The Gurnee native came into the season having thrown three-plus innings just eight times in three previous years at UIC. This past year he tossed 3 complete games, went 7 innings or more on 10 occasions and turned in 8 quality starts.

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.