(DETROIT, MI) Detroit Tigers second baseman Danny Worth, 24, made his Major League debut Sunday in the Tigers 5-1 win against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. The former Alexandria Beetles all-star and NWL Batting Champion started at second base, batted ninth, and delivered an infield RBI-single off of John Lackey in his first at-bat. He finished 1-for-3 in the game.

Worth was off to a good start at Triple-A Toledo batting .274 with two home runs, 14 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 36 games. He’s a career .249 hitter in parts of four seasons in the minor leagues and his 10 stolen bases are already a professional career-high.

Worth, originally from Valencia, California, won the Northwoods League batting title in 2006 while playing as the everyday shortstop for the Alexandria Beetles. He made the mid-season and postseason all-star teams that year batting .344 with 13 doubles and 26 RBI, while also stealing 29 bases. The following June the Tigers drafted him in the second round following his junior season at Pepperdine.

Standing at 6’1” 185 pounds, the right-handed hitting and throwing infielder Worth could see some regular playing time for at least the rest of May. He was called up when everyday second baseman Scott Sizemore was sent to Triple-A, but reports have indicated that Carlos Guillen will become the team’s second baseman when he comes off the disabled list near the end of the month.

Worth is the sixth former Beetle to play in the big leagues and the second to debut this year. Allen Craig (’03/05) made the opening day roster for the St. Louis Cardinals but has since been sent to Triple-A. The other Beetle currently in the majors is Nick Hundley (’04) who is the starting catcher for the San Diego Padres.

The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. A total of 63 NWL alumni have gone on to play in the big leagues.