JOSH PHEGLEY

VITALS

Junior, Terre Haute
5 feet 11, 215 pounds
Catcher
No. 38 overall pick, selected by the Chicago White Sox

THE SKINNY

Phegley came to IU with high expectations as the 2006 Indiana Mr. Baseball.

A tough freshman year masked what was to come, as in his sophomore and junior campaigns Phegley hit .438 and .344, respectively, and hit a combined 32 home runs between the two seasons. In those two seasons, IU’s offense ranked first (2008) and second (2009) in the Big Ten.

A captain in his junior year, Phegley was a catalyst in the Hoosiers’ run to a Big Ten tournament title in May, and far and away their best offensive draft prospect.  

OF INTEREST

Unlike most college catchers, Phegley had the freedom and ability to call his own game behind the plate.

Almost all college backstops take signs from a coach in the dugout for which pitches they should call, but IU coach Tracy Smith gave Phegley the liberty to make those decisions himself, giving the Terre Haute native valuable experience.

“Basically, all the scouts I met with commented on it in some way,” Phegley said of his ability to call a game. “It almost kind of hinders players (who don’t in college), because as soon as you hit pro ball, everybody does it.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

Phegley, a lifelong Cardinals fan, said the White Sox were one of a specific list of teams interested in him anywhere between Nos. 23 and 61.

“They’d been in touch with my adviser,” Phegley said, “and they said they were really interested (at) 38, and they said they would for sure pick me 61st.”

He said the Sox felt Phegley wouldn’t be there for the taking as late as 61 and so tabbed him with their second pick.