Pitch Perfect: Reid Worley’s Journey from Cherokee County to the Big Leagues
CANTON, Ga. — “Take me out to the ball game” is a song that almost everyone can sing along to and one that elicits feelings of nostalgia and excitement. It reminds people of their childhood spent running around homemade bases with neighborhood friends and evenings with their families packed around a television watching the latest game. Every spring and summer, ballparks around the world are packed full of families crowding the bleachers to cheer on their favorite ball players. The beloved traditions bring communities together as people old and young gather root for their personal home teams. From youth leagues all the way up to the Majors, baseball is an American tradition – the Nation’s pastime- and it’s no different here in Cherokee county. Kids grow up dreaming of the day when they’ll make it to the big leagues, and for one of Cherokee High School’s 2025 graduates, that dream came true.
Hobgood Park saw the start of Reid Worley’s baseball career when he stepped on home plate for the first time playing for the Detroit Tigers. Only four years old at the time, Reid and his family had no idea the spark that had just been ignited. Reid dabbled in all sorts of athletic endeavors as the years passed. Basketball, soccer, and lacrosse gave him new experiences with team sports while golf and mountain biking allowed him to compete against himself, always measuring progress against his own past performances. With time, the other sports began to fade away. By the age of fifteen, Worley had a singular focus on baseball.
No matter what position the athlete on the field plays, baseball requires all members of the team to use unique athletic abilities. Infielders are responsible for catching ground balls at swift speeds while outfielders need to be able to make long, accurate throws in order to fire the ball. Pitchers and catchers work together to ultimately control the game; trust and communication between the two are of utmost importance. Reid, a pitcher, says, “Having teammates to lean back on when you need it is a huge advantage.” Reid played for Cherokee High School all four years and was seen as a special talent to Coach Josh Thomas. He described the pitcher as a young man being raised by special people who just so happens to be an incredible athlete. On the Varsity team, Worley was known for having a powerful arsenal of pitches and was able to do things on the mound that no one has ever done.
Throughout high school, Reid continued getting bigger, stronger and faster. He committed to Kennesaw State University in the 10th grade and worked even harder to sharpen his skills. He had many amazing mentors over the years that shaped his work ethic and helped him become a leader on and off the field. The summer of his senior year, Reid started getting attention from pro scouts like never before. He spent the summer attending many high profile baseball events: PBR All American Game, USA Baseball Trials, MLB All American Game, and the MLB Combine, to name a few. With this newfound set of eyes and pressure on Reid, he managed to stay modest about all of his achievements and carried himself with quiet confidence. Coach Thomas very proudly talked of his consistency, loyalty, and humility: “He stayed true to his teammates, coaches, and school through it all. We couldn’t be more proud of all he has accomplished on and off the field.”
By the end of his senior year, all 30 of the Major League Baseball teams had scouted Reid. Worley described the moment that the Giants called his name as surreal and expressed, “It was cool to see a lot of my work pay off.” He went on to state that being drafted is just the beginning and quickly said he still has lots of work to do. His parents, Amy and Jay Worley, joyfully recalled, “It was very surreal to see our little boy growing up right in front of our eyes. We decided to enjoy the process and take it all in day by day.” Mr. Worley said, “To hear your child’s name called out on TV during the MLB Draft still doesn’t seem real, but it fits his lifelong dreams so perfectly.” Reid jumped right in to his professional career and is currently in Arizona for the Rookie League. He will be missed on the mound at Cherokee, but the Warrior Nation is so proud to see one of their own chasing dreams and making a name for themselves. One thing is for certain, whether it was pitching at 90+mph, his competitive mindset, or his humility, Reid left a mark at Beautiful Warrior Field.
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