Blue Jays Beckon Lakeland’S Phelps

Call it a mother’s intuition.

Patty Phelps had an inkling Tuesday night that her son, Josh, might be called up soon by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Wednesday morning, Josh Phelps phoned his parents in Rathdrum to tell them he was headed to the major leagues.

“It’s overwhelming. It’s a great feeling,” Phelps said from a motel room just before midnight in Atlanta, where he had spent the evening in the visitors dugout at Turner Field after reporting to the Blue Jays.

Toronto beat the defending National League champion Braves, 12-8, in an interleague game Wednesday, although Phelps, a catcher, did not play.

“It’s the culmination of all your goals. There’s no better feeling in the world than to be able to call your parents and tell them you’re going to play in the big league,” he said.

He caught a plane to Atlanta from Birmingham, Ala., where Toronto’s Southern League Class AA team, the Tennessee Smokies, played the night before.

Phelps is the first North Idaho high school product to make it to the major leagues.

He filled the roster spot of outfielder/catcher Todd Greene, who injured his right knee making a throw to second base Tuesday night and was placed on the disabled list. Toronto’s other catchers are Darrin Fletcher, who injured his shoulder making a throw to second base last weekend, and Alberto Castillo.

Phelps’ promotion to the major leagues comes four years to the day since he signed with Toronto.

A 1996 Lakeland High graduate, Phelps was drafted in the 10th round. He signed with Toronto two days later for what he called then “a very generous offer for the 10th round.”

Phelps couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday. But his father, Lee, said he could tell Josh was overwhelmed when they talked Wednesday.

“I imagine he’s just tied in knots,” Lee said. “Disbelief and shock was his first reaction.”

Phelps was hitting .263 through 29 games with Tennessee, including three homers and 12 RBIs. Although the Smokies have played 57 games, Phelps didn’t join them until May 1 after a rehab assignment in Florida.

He had arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow after spring training.

Phelps didn’t play behind the plate last year because of the injury. But it wasn’t a lost season for him at Dunedin, Fla., Toronto’s advanced Class A team in the Florida State League. He had an all-star year as the team’s designated hitter, batting .328 with 20 homers.

Baseball America magazine recently rated Phelps as No. 5 among Toronto’s top 10 prospects. The magazine also projected him as a starter in the Blue Jays’ 2003 lineup.