TERRE HAUTE —
Josh Phegley is finally back doing what he wants to do … playing baseball.
Phegley will conclude a five-day “rehabilitation assignment” with the Bristol White Sox tonight, and is scheduled to make his return to the Winston-Salem Dash — the team he started with this season in the Chicago White Sox organization — on Sunday.
On the baseball diamond, either hitting or crouched behind the plate in his familiar position as catcher, Phegley always knows the score.
But the former Terre Haute North, Wayne Newton Post 346 and Indiana University standout was relegated to watching a different scoreboard the past two months — his numbers associated with a medical condition called ITP Syndrome.
What is ITP Syndrome? In layman’s terms, a seriously low blood platelet count.
With just six games under his belt in mid-April, Phegley began noticing some red dots on his back. Soon after, he incurred a huge bruise on his leg from absorbing a foul tip — a normal hazard for a catcher.
“The red dots were blood capillaries rupturing because my blood was so thin,” Phegley learned later. “The bruise on my leg was the last straw. It grew to eight to 10 inches in diameter, just from a foul ball. I had blood work run and my platelet count was dangerously low.”
Phegley explained a normal blood platelet count runs between 150,000 and 350,000. When diagnosed, his platelet count was only 1,000.
“I was admitted to the hospital right then,” he stated.
After an initial stay in the hospital, his condition has gradually improved through medication, a series of IV treatments and weekly injections.
“They ruled out the scary stuff, so that was a big relief. It was just a malfunction of my own system. Any virus that came along, whatever it might be, my body just reacted wrongly,” he observed.
On a positive note, he needed just two IV treatments — administered in two-week intervals — to complete a one-month cycle. He is still receiving weekly injections, describing them as “not a real hassle.”
“They’ve finally got the numbers stabilized. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment on Monday. So I hope to get the green light for the rest of the year.”
One tough part of his time spent on the shelf was not being able to work out, despite not feeling poorly during the entire process.
“It was a month-and-a-half without workouts, so it was hard to stay in shape,” he noted.
Being away from the baseball routine was tough, too, saying “it was mentally taxing [not playing].
“Doctor’s appointments kept me from traveling with the team on road trips, so then I would just hang out [in Winston-Salem],” he mentioned. “I would see all the guys when we were at home … and I room with two of our pitchers in my apartment. So I still felt I was a part of the team.”
Phegley was pleased with the support of the White Sox organization, saying, “They took care of me pretty well. They extended all their resources, so I knew I was a priority to the organization.”
Since returning with Bristol, Phegley has played every day — designated hitter on Tuesday, catch five innings on Wednesday, catch seven innings on Thursday. He was slated to DH on Friday, then catch the entire game today.
In his final outing with Bristol today, Phegley (supplemental 1st round draft pick in 2009) expects to be the battery mate of former Indiana State pitcher Jake Petricka. Petricka (2nd round draft pick earlier this week) will be making his first pro start.
“I’ve talked to him a little bit,” he said. “I asked him if he knew Nick Ciolli and Brady Shoemaker and he said he played with them last year. Haven’t seen him throw yet, but will catch him [today]. Seems to have an even head on him … pretty cool and laid back.”
As for the rest of the season, Phegley is thrilled to be heading back to Winston-Salem.
“We already clinched the first-half title. So we already have a playoff bid and the pressure is off. But I still want to win and help this club as much as I can.”
Phegley wished to extend a thank you to all the people who showed support — whether by phone, e-mail, text or prayers — to him, his parents and grandparents.
“I’m finally getting back to normal. I want to play the rest of the season for all those people.”
Sports
Josh Phegley back playing ball again
Former North player was sidelined by medical condition
- Sports
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
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Coach adds regional host to job description
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
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West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves.
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Top guns, again
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
- Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
- West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
- BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
- PREP ROUNDUP: Martinsville adavances in Class 4A THS Sectional
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- College
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
- Sports Columns
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. - TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
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- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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Top guns, again
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