Jeter Worthley grew up in a family of Michigan fans. He committed to play baseball there before he could drive a car.
Now he’s instead heading to Nebraska for a reason familiar to all brothers: The other one started it.
The Lincoln East senior announced his flip from Wolverines to Huskers on Saturday in a surprise coup for the local team to land one of the state’s top prospects in the 2025 class. Worthley projects as a college catcher, though the speedy, high-contact hitter also plays second base and the outfield.
The right-hander wouldn’t have made the move without his older brother, Jalen Worthley, who is a junior pitcher with the Huskers. No recruiting message is more powerful than watching his own sibling improve and thrive in Lincoln.
“It’s always kind of been in the back of my mind because I see how well he’s developed and how he’s changed as a baseball player and how his mindset’s changed as a baseball player,” Jeter Worthley said. “When you see that firsthand, you know it works.”
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Jalen — a two-year reliever in the conversation for a starting role in the spring — put in his own good word for the Huskers. Jeter saw recent NU hitter success stories including catcher Josh Caron last season and wanted to follow the same path.
The younger Worthley — who committed to a different Michigan coaching staff in February 2022 — quietly backed off his old pledge nearly two weeks ago and reached out to Nebraska. Now he’s the 15th known member of Big Red’s 2025 class and the eighth in-state addition. East teammate and infielder Joey Senstock was the first to join the NU cycle nearly three years ago.
“I still have full respect for the Michigan program,” Worthley said. “But I think — no, I don’t think, I know — this is where I want to be.”
Worthley, a two-time All-Nebraska first-teamer, hit .426 last spring and scored 41 runs with Class A runner-up East. The 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander was also a two-year starting quarterback for the Spartans before stepping back this season to focus on baseball.
Worthley — named after former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter — brings as much value with his defense behind the plate as his bat and held offers from Penn State, Indiana and San Jose State before he joined Michigan. He became a catcher as a grade-schooler to work with his brother, a left-hander who was already taking to pitching.
Jeter caught every game Jalen threw when they were East teammates in the spring of 2022. Maybe they can reprise the Worthley-Worthley battery as potential Nebraska teammates for the 2026 season — it’s a goal, Jeter said. They could be the first brothers on the same Husker baseball roster since pitcher Matt Waldron and infielder Mike Waldron in 2019.
The family will celebrate at some point, Worthley said. He spent Saturday in his room recovering from the flu and thinking about his new future.
“We’ll probably go out to eat at some point,” Worthley said. “I can’t wait to get there.”
All-state baseball: Meet the 17 first-team Super-Staters from 2024 season
P: CARTER MICK, LINCOLN EAST, SR.
Lincoln East’s Carter Mick
College: Nebraska
The skinny: The Lincoln East ace put together another impressive season. Regarded as one of the best Spartan pitchers ever, he was a huge reason for the 29-1 regular season. Mick finished with a record of 7-0 with a 1.15 ERA. His three-fourths arm slot gave hitters problems all season long.
Coach speak: “Carter Mick was elite for us on the mound all year and his entire career. Big Game Carter gave us a chance to win in every start he ever made and the boys loved to play behind him.“ — Lincoln East coach Mychal Lanik
P: COLIN NOWACZYK, ELKHORN NORTH, SR.
Elkhorn North’s Colin Nowaczyk
College: Nebraska
The skinny: Nowaczyk picked up right where he ended his junior season, being untouchable. The Nebraska recruit led Elkhorn North to an impressive 8-0 record in his starts with a miniscule 0.43 ERA. He also put together a huge season at the plate, hitting .479 with 18 runs and 13 RBIs.
Coach speak: “He has one of the most impressive statistical careers of any high school player ever in Nebraska. With that being said, he is an even better kid with an elite character and as humble as anyone. The bigger the game, the better he played and we will miss having Big Game Colin as he goes to play for Nebraska next year.” — Elkhorn North coach Anthony Dunn
P: JACE ZIOLA, OMAHA SKUTT, JR.
Omaha Skutt’s Jace Ziola
College: Nebraska
The skinny: One of the best pitchers in the state put together another dazzling season. With a 6-0 record and a 0.89 ERA, the Omaha Skutt ace diced up opposing lineups. The 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher has worked hard on a velocity jump and it has paid off. After a radar recorded him at 95 mph, he had no issues unleashing the fastball at any given point this season, often overwhelming hitters.
Coach speak: “Jace’s statistics and his abilities speak for themselves and he is very deserving of this honor. What the stats don’t show is how impactful his leadership was to a very young pitching staff. He was a big-time leader for us and the ultimate competitor.” — Omaha Skutt coach Damon Day
P: PAUL SHORTRIDGE, LINCOLN EAST, SR.
Lincoln East’s Paul Shortridge
College: Grinnell College
The skinny: Shotridge turned into an unsung hero for Lincoln East this season. With his stellar control and radiating confidence on the mound, he quickly became a go-to guy. Shortridge finished with an impressive 7-0 record and a 1.51 ERA. Shortridge was also huge in pushing East to the State Tournament finale.
Coach speak: “Paul is absolutely the most fearless pitcher that I have ever been around. A four-pitch mix with moxy and toughness. Paul was elite in every sense of the word for us this season.” — Lincoln East coach Mychal Lanik
C: JETER WORTHLEY, LINCOLN EAST, JR.
Lincoln East’s Jeter Worthley
College: Michigan
The skinny: The spark plug of Lincoln East’s roster put together another great year at the plate. After posting a .426 batting average with 38 runs and 19 RBIs, Worthley is set to return as the leader of the Spartans for his senior campaign.
Coach speak: “Jeter is the heartbeat of our program. Tough. Physical. Ultra competitive. Makes winning plays in every phase of the game. Blessed to have him.” — Lincoln East coach Mychal Lanik
IF: AJ EVASCO, LINCOLN EAST, SR.
Lincoln East’s Alex Evasco
College: Kansas State
The skinny: The sweet-swinging left-hander from Lincoln East enjoyed an impressive senior campaign. After setting the record for most RBIs in a career, the Kansas State commit collected 49 hits, 45 runs and 54 RBIs this season.
Coach speak: “AJ Evasco is the best player I have ever coached. To have 25 extra-base hits and only five strikeouts is ridiculous. He is a tone setter for us and maybe the hardest worker I have ever been around.” — Lincoln East coach Mychal Lanik
IF: TYSON LEWIS, MILLARD WEST, SR.
Millard West’s Tyson Lewis
College: Arkansas
The skinny: In his second season at Millard West, he brought home a state championship. He also turned heads with his jaw-dropping stat line in Class A baseball. Lewis had a .527 regular season average with 51 runs, 38 RBIs and seven home runs. Lewis had a state-high 59 hits this season.
IF: KALE FOUNTAIN, NORRIS, SR.
Norris’ Kale Fountain
College: LSU
The skinny: A huge piece to the Norris baseball puzzle finished out on top. After dominating Nebraska high school baseball all four years of his high school career, he now looks to the higher level of competition. Fountain produced a .508 average with 36 runs, 26 RBIs and five home runs as a senior.
IF: NICK VENTEICHER, MILLARD WEST, SR.
Millard West’s Nick Venteicher
College: Creighton
The skinny: Anything that was asked of Venteicher, he would do – to a high standard. The utility player bounced from infield positions to the pitcher’s mound and executed every spot he played. Venteicher put together a steady .376 average with 33 runs, 33 RBIs while also going 2-1 as a pitcher with five saves.
OF: DREW GREGO, BELLEVUE WEST, JR.
Bellevue West’s Drew Grego
College: Nebraska
The skinny: The biggest base-stealing threat in Class A elevated his game to a new level this year. With a .455 batting average and 41 runs scored, the Bellevue West product showed his offensive abilities. However, as a pitcher, Grego twirled himself to a 6-2 record with a 0.67 ERA. Grego was a big reason for the Thunderbirds’ state appearance this season.
Coach speak: “Drew has been a mainstay at the top of our lineup since his freshman year. This season was by far his best as a Thunderbird in that he broke our single-season hits record (50), stolen base record (24) and is approaching several other career records. As well as being a lockdown defender in the middle infield for us, he is also one of our top arms, winning six games for us this year.” — Bellevue West coach Jason Shockey
OF: CHRIS THIESSEN, ELKHORN NORTH, SR.
Elkhorn North’s Christopher Thiessen
College: Missouri Western
The skinny: As a leader for the Elkhorn North offense this season, Thiessen put together a .427 average and had 24 runs and 26 RBIs. Thiessen’s versatility helped key the Wolves this season. As the lead-off hitter for the past several years, Thiessen set the tone for deep playoff runs each season.
Coach speak: “Our leadoff hitter for the last three years he had over 35 extra-base hits and accounted for almost 200 runs in his career. There is no secret to his success. Nobody has spent more time getting swings in and working on their craft. As good as he was for us, the thing we will miss most was how much he loved his teammates.” — Elkhorn North coach Anthony Dunn
OF: DANNY WALLACE, PAPILLION-LA VISTA SOUTH, JR.
Papillion-La Vista South’s Danny Wallace
College: Oklahoma State
The skinny: The Papio South product put together his best year yet. With a .380 batting average, Wallace also collected 19 runs, 18 RBIs and five home runs. Wallace also put together another steady season on the mound as a leader for the Titan pitching staff.
Coach speak: “Danny Wallace has great baseball instincts. He helped us win a lot of games in many different ways. He is a top-line pitcher who has plus velocity and is ultra-competitive. He is an outstanding outfielder who ran down triples and turned them into outs. He is an excellent hitter with good power.” — Papillion-La Vista South coach Bill Lynam
UTIL: MASON WISNIESKI, MALCOLM, JR.
Malcolm’s Mason Wisnieski
College: Uncommitted
The skinny: A huge piece to the Malcolm powerhouse elevated his game this season. After a good season last year, Wisnieski produced a whopping .559 batting average with 27 runs, 30 RBIs and hit four home runs this spring. Wisnieski also pitched to a 3-1 record with a 2.85 ERA. He was a big reason for the Clippers’ second consecutive state title.
Coach speak: “You won’t find very many guys that put in as much work as Mason does. He is constantly working in the offseason and during the season to make himself, and his team better. A lot of Mason’s teammates follow his path of putting in extra time to improve their game.” — Malcolm coach Zach Wehner
UTIL: GARRETT SPRINGER, LINCOLN EAST, SR.
Lincoln East’s Garrett Springer
College: Missouri State
The skinny: Perhaps the biggest home run threat in the state, Springer launched eight long balls this season. Standing at 6-foot-4, the Missouri State product has an incredible awareness for his bat. Springer hit .447 with 40 RBIs.
Coach speak: “Garrett had an unbelievable season. Average over .450 and eight home runs. Elite leadership skills and a couple huge hits to save us vs. Millard North in the first round of the state tournament.” — Lincoln East coach Mychal Lanik
UTIL: TY SMOLINSKI, BELLEVUE WEST, SR.
Bellevue West’s Ty Smolinski
College: Kansas State
The skinny: A huge reason for Bellevue West’s success this season was Smolinski. With another big season offensively, Smolinski accumulated a .427 average with 27 runs and 47 RBIs. Smolinski also swatted a team-high four home runs.
Coach speak: “Ty had one of the best ‘single seasons’ in my 10 years as head baseball coach at Bellevue West. He broke our single-season RBI record (49) and is one of the best left-handed hitters in the state. Ty started every game for us this year in the three-hole and along with being a great hitter, he is also an outstanding middle infielder.” — Bellevue West coach Jason Shockey
UTIL: MIKE WHEELOCK, CREIGHTON PREP, SR.
Creighton Prep’s Michael Wheelock
College: Northeast Community College
The skinny: A huge piece to the Creighton Prep offense elevated their game this season as Wheelock produced a team-high six home runs. The powerlifting senior finished the regular season with a .367 average with 22 runs and 29 RBIs. He was a leader for the Jr. Jays, who overcame a slow start to make the state tournament again.
Coach speak: “Mike had a great year for us. The ultimate team player and was, hands down, our leader. The team followed his lead. He really worked hard with the new faces this year in the dugout. Couldn’t have had a better captain.” — Creighton Prep coach Pat Mooney
UTIL; MADDOX MEYER, MALCOLM, SR.
Malcolm’s Maddox Meyer
College: Omaha
The skinny: En route to another Class C title, Meyer led the Clippers in every pitching stat. With a 7-0 record and a 0.65 ERA, Meyer stifled the competition all season. With the bat, Meyer also produced an impressive .370 average with 30 runs, 20 RBIs and five home runs.
Coach speak: “Maddox was the heart and soul of our team. He was a great leader both on and off the field, making sure everyone was getting better every day. His hard work ethic trickled down through the younger boys making everyone a better ball player.” — Malcolm coach Zach Wehner
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