Sitting Down with One of the Newest Members of the Baltimore Orioles Organization: Thomas Phelps
It was Thursday, June 6th in Green Bay, Wisc. The
Mankato Moondogs were sitting down for a team meal before their
game against the Green Bay Bullfrogs in the Northwoods Summer
Baseball League. Whittier College pitcher Thomas Phelps
paused momentarily from his meal to answer a phone call that would
change his life.
The junior from Westminster, Calif., has spent the past three
seasons terrorizing SCIAC hitters and earned first team
All-Conference honors in 2007. In 181 career innings pitched,
he had accumulated 147 strikeouts, just 65 walks and a 4.71
ERA. His "stuff", as it's known in baseball circles, was good
enough to make him the ace of the Whittier College pitching staff
and now it could potentially get him into the major leagues.
The phone call was from the Baltimore Orioles organization,
informing Phelps that he had been selected in the 38th
round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player
Draft.
"I was ecstatic when I got the call," said Phelps. "I'm
grateful they were willing to take a chance on me especially after
the year I had. I'm going to make it worth their while
though."
The numbers may not have been there for Phelps in 2008, but his
potential never left. Scouts were almost always present at
Poets games last season, and apparently the Orioles liked what they
saw from the hard-throwing, right-hander. "I wasn't sure what
to expect heading into the draft," he said. "But I've always
known I had what it takes to help a major league club. Now I
have my shot to prove it."
He is the second player in three years to be drafted out of
Whittier College. Tom Vessella was selected in the
11th round by the Astros in 2006. Having a former
teammate going through the process was a big help to Phelps.
"Tom has been a mentor to me during all of this. I spoke with
him about the entire process; about the differences at the next
level, the work it takes and what to expect. I really
appreciate his help."
Phelps understands that this step won't be an easy one, but he
looks forward to the challenge. "I'm going to have to step up
my work ethic. I'll have to push myself even more to be
successful. It's a longer season, and you have to be there
mentally every night."
Phelps credits Whittier College for getting him this far. "I
wouldn't be at this point in my career if not for my coaches and
teammates here. They pushed me to become a better player and
teammate. My professors helped me develop the discipline that
I needed to be a student-athlete. That discipline will
continue to serve me as I work towards making it to the next
level."
The next level being a spot in the show, suiting up for the
Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. "I'm a little torn growing
up as an Angels fan. But I love the city of Baltimore and
Camden Yards is one of my favorite ballparks."
Phelps heads to Baltimore on Thursday for his physical and contract
signing. He doesn't plan to leave Whittier College for good,
however. He will continue his schooling in the fall with the
hopes of graduating so he can have a career after baseball.
After his playing days are over, he wants to become a high school
English teacher and baseball coach where he can pass along the
baseball knowledge he has gained at Whittier and will gain in the
pros. Keep an eye on Thomas Phelps, you may hear his name
called to take the mound in game 7 of the World Series some
day. And we will all be able to look back and say, "I
remember him when he was a Poet."
