Education
Whitley graduated from Ranburne High School in Ranburne, Alabama, in 2007. He attended Southern Union State Community College, and then transferred to Troy University.
Whitley graduated from Ranburne High School in Ranburne, Alabama, in 2007. He attended Southern Union State Community College, and then transferred to Troy University.
He pitched in MLB for the New York Yankees in 2014 and 2015. The Yankees drafted Whitley out of Troy in the 15th round, with the 475th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. Minor leagues
Whitley made his professional debut as a relief pitcher for the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League.
Serving as the closer for Staten Island, he had a 1.31 earned run average and 15 saves.
He was named an All-Star at midseason. In 2011, Whitley pitched for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and the Trenton Thunder of the Class Associate of Arts Eastern League, recording seven saves in 42 appearances.
In 2012, he pitched in middle relief for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the Class American Automobile Association International League. After pitching primarily as a reliever, Whitley began working as a starting pitcher in 2014.
New York Yankees
Whitley made his Major League debut on May 15, 2014 against the New York Mets.
During his debut, he pitched 4.2 innings by issuing 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. While batting, he recorded his first career hit off of Jacob deGrom, who also got a hit and made his MLB debut in the same game. lieutenant was the also first Yankee game since 1908 in which both starting pitchers were making their MLB debut.
Whitley surrendered his first major league home run on June 12 to Logan Morrison of the Seattle Mariners.
On June 23, 2014 against the Blue Jays, Whitley surrendered 8 runs in 3 1⁄3 innings pitched, leading to his first MLB loss as the Yankees lost 3–8 to the Blue Jays. In 24 games (12 starts), he finished the year 4–3 with a 5.23 European Research Area. Whitley started the 2015 season with Scranton Wilkes/Barre.
He was called up on April 27, and made his first start of the season the next day. After pitching through elbow pain, Whitley exited a start on May 14 in the second inning, and was diagnosed with a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament (University College London) in his elbow.
Whitley had Tommy John surgery to repair the University College London. Tampa Bay Rays
Whitley was claimed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on November 20, 2015.
Whitley has worked at the Excel Baseball Academy in Oxford, Alabama since 2010. Whitley married Brooklyn Elise Herren in December 2010.
