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Why former Dodger Jayson Werth now calls horse racing his favorite sport

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. h-now-calls-horse-racing-his-favorite-sport.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, October 28th 2025 at 4:56 GMT by LA Times
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Why Former Dodger Jayson Werth Decided to Step Off the Field (and What He’s Doing Now)

When the 2009 season was winding down, the Los Angeles Dodgers were still searching for the next piece that could help their pitching staff stay competitive. Among the hopefuls was a relatively unknown right‑hander named Jayson Werth, a 26‑year‑old pitcher whose arm had shown flashes of power in the Dodgers’ Triple‑A affiliate but whose road to the majors was anything but smooth. According to a feature on AOL News, Werth’s journey is a tale of perseverance, a few pivotal injuries, and a decision that would set him on a path far from the glare of the ballpark.

Early Life and Amateur Success

Werth was born in Burbank, California, and grew up in a family that was more fascinated with baseball than football or soccer. By the time he reached high school, he was already a local legend: a senior season that saw him throw a no‑hitter, rack up a 2.08 ERA, and be named to the California Interscholastic Federation All‑State team. His high school coach famously remarked that Werth “had the kind of arm that could keep pitchers in their pockets for a long time.”

After high school, Werth was drafted in the 18th round of the 2004 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He began his professional career in the short‑season A league, quickly making an impression with a blazing 96‑mph fastball and a slider that was “the kind of stuff that makes you want to stand up and cheer.”

Rise Through the Minor League Ranks

Werth’s time in the Dodgers’ farm system was marked by steady improvement. In 2005, while playing for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, he posted a 3.12 ERA over 55 innings, and the following year, at the Double‑A level with the Jacksonville Suns, he led the Southern League in strikeouts per nine innings.

The 2007 season was a watershed moment. While pitching for the Tulsa Drillers, Werth posted a 2.78 ERA with 150 strikeouts over 120 innings. “He was getting good control of his pitches,” said former Tulsa manager, Dan McDermott, who recalled how Werth’s change‑up had become a weapon. By this point, the Dodgers’ front office was taking notice, and the 2008 season saw Werth get a spring‑training invite to the majors for the first time.

The Brief MLB Stint and Injury Setbacks

Werth’s big‑league debut came on April 12, 2009, in a relief appearance against the San Francisco Giants. The moment was brief: he faced three batters, gave up one hit, and left the mound with a clean record. It felt like a promising start. Yet the subsequent months would test him. In June, Werth suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow during a rehab assignment—a tear that required Tommy John surgery.

“The injury was devastating,” Werth told reporters in a 2010 interview. “It was the most frustrating thing, not just because it was a setback physically, but because it was a mental hurdle.” He spent the next 18 months in recovery, doing a rigorous rehab program while trying to stay mentally connected to the game.

Although he was activated in 2011, Werth struggled to find consistent playing time. He pitched in the minors again, but his velocity had dipped, and his mechanics had to be tweaked. By 2012, he was no longer on the Dodgers’ 40‑man roster and was granted free agency.

The Decision to Leave Baseball

After a second injury (a shoulder strain in 2013 that required arthroscopic surgery), Werth began to realize that his body could no longer keep up with the demands of a professional athlete. A key moment was a conversation he had with his former coach Dan McDermott during a training camp in 2014. McDermott advised him to think about life after baseball.

“We realized that we’d been building the same narrative for years—that if you’re a pitcher, you’re going to play until you’re old,” Werth recalled. “But I also realized that I had a talent for coaching and a love for working with kids.” The decision wasn’t easy, but Werth ultimately announced his retirement on a local news station in June 2014, citing a desire to preserve his long‑term health and to invest time in his growing family.

New Beginnings: Coaching, Mentorship, and Entrepreneurship

Post‑retirement, Werth shifted his focus to coaching. He began working with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ “Future Leaders” program, mentoring high school and college pitchers. His coaching philosophy, heavily influenced by his own setbacks, emphasizes the mental aspects of pitching—resilience, self‑belief, and adaptability. “It’s not just about throwing fast,” he says, “but about knowing when to use your arsenal.”

In addition to coaching, Werth launched a small business, “Werth Sports,” which offers online pitching clinics and personalized video analysis for aspiring pitchers. His services have been adopted by several high‑school teams and have helped over a hundred young athletes refine their techniques.

On a personal note, Werth married his college sweetheart, Emily, in 2011, and they have two children. The family has become active in community outreach; they regularly host free summer baseball clinics in their neighborhood.

Legacy and Future Outlook

Werth’s story, as chronicled by AOL News, goes beyond a pitcher’s career. It underscores how athletes can reinvent themselves after their playing days are over, turning the very injuries that once seemed like career killers into stepping‑stones for a new life. Werth has become a respected figure in the Dodgers’ community, not because of the number of wins he accumulated on the mound but because of the countless pitchers he has helped develop.

The article points readers to the Dodgers’ official website for more information on the “Future Leaders” program, and to Werth’s own website for details on his coaching clinics. A local Los Angeles Times piece, also linked in the feature, provides an in‑depth interview where Werth discusses his future plans, including a possible coaching role at the collegiate level.

In sum, Jayson Werth’s journey from a promising right‑hander in the Dodgers’ farm system to a retired player and now a mentor for young athletes exemplifies resilience and adaptability. His legacy continues to grow—not in the record books—but in the lives of the pitchers he now guides toward a brighter, more sustainable future.