Drafted in the 89th round (1,720th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1996.
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An 89th-round pick in 1996 who signed as a draft-and-follow in 1997, Phelps is on the verge of earning the distinction of the lowest-drafted player ever to reach the majors. He has lowered his ERA for three consecutive years and reached double digits in wins in the last two seasons. Phelps has a good arm with an excellent knowledge of how to pitch. His two best offerings are an above-average slider and changeup. He can be aggressive, even though he always has been considered a finesse pitcher due to his skinny frame. The Devil Rays have made several attempts to add weight to Phelps' body, but the results have been minimal. He needs to improve his overall strength, which would enable him to work more often off a fastball that averages 91 mph and has been clocked as high as 94. A starter throughout his career, Phelps served as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League. The Devil Rays are considering several scenarios for Phelps, which include starting in Double-A or relieving in Triple-A this season.
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