Blue Jays encouraged by Phelps’ progress after lat surgery

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- If David Phelps was worried about having to go above and beyond this spring to elbow his way into the Blue Jays’ bullpen, perhaps he’ll sleep a little more soundly now, knowing that his manager has just one ask of him.

“What he can do to impress me is for me to see that he's healthy,” Charlie Montoyo said Monday, “because I know what he can do when he's healthy.”

If that’s the bar, Phelps’ ship is still full-speed ahead with Toronto as its destination following his second Grapefruit League outing. The right-hander worked two-thirds of an inning during the Blue Jays’ 5-4 loss to the Braves on Monday at CoolToday Park, allowing two runs on two hits.

The box score didn’t tell the whole story: Phelps started the sixth and retired the first two batters he faced on harmless infield flies. It looked like he’d get out with a clean frame when the third hitter, Alex Dickerson, skied another can of corn between third base and shortstop. Whether the sun or wind was a factor, third baseman Trevor Schwecke lost the ball and it dropped untouched on the infield.

Dickerson wound up on second base with what was ruled a double, and the next batter, Adam Duvall, chopped a hard ball up the third-base line that shot past Schwecke for a double to end Phelps’ day.

Toronto’s bullpen is crowded with no shortage of talent -- “I think it’s going to be one part of the team that’s going to surprise people this year,” Phelps said -- but with rosters expanding by two to 28 for April, there’s a decent bet Phelps will grab one of those extra spots.

“I feel fantastic and I'm really encouraged with where I'm at,” he said. “Obviously, Opening Day is fast approaching, and I’m trying to make [the] team, but my goal this whole time has been to get healthy.

“If you had told me … that my velocity numbers were going to be what they were, I’m not quite sure I would’ve believed you. I think it's a testament to a lot of people who’ve put in a lot of work to get to this point. I’m excited for myself and I'm also excited for the people that have helped get me here.”

For many -- Montoyo included -- Monday’s audition looked like an extension of what Toronto saw out of Phelps in 2021. The 35-year-old has played parts of nine seasons with seven teams, but his best season might have been last year. Phelps dominated hitters out of the gate and maintained an 0.87 ERA through his first 11 appearances (10 1/3 innings) before he was sidelined May 6 with right lat discomfort.

Eight days later, Phelps underwent surgery to repair the right latissimus dorsi muscle, and just like that, his 2021 was over.

Phelps is unfortunately no stranger to rehab. A UCL injury to his pitching elbow and the ensuing Tommy John surgery stole 21 months from his career and canceled his entire 2018 season. Due in no small part to what Phelps said was an army of support, he’s been able to rebound not once but twice from a major surgery.

After this past go-round, he admits questioning for a moment whether, at his age and with a wife and four children at home, a comeback campaign was in the cards. In the end though, Phelps figured he owed it to his troops.

“It's not about what happens on the field, it's about the people that have all played a role in it,” he said. “Anyone that's had surgery knows what that's like, and so [coming back is] a testament and our way of saying ‘Thank you,’ to the people that are one of the pieces that doesn't really get talked about.”

Entering camp this spring after electing free agency and re-signing with Toronto within a span of 26 days, Phelps figured he had as much to prove to himself as he did the Blue Jays. While the former might still be true, Montoyo eased the pressure a bit when he said Toronto already trusts in what Phelps brings to the table.

“He earned [our trust], you know? That's how he goes. He earned it,” Montoyo said. “Every time we put him out there, he did the job, and that's why I'm hoping he's healthy.

“Because if he's healthy, he's going to help us.”

Two spring outings later, it’s so far, so good for Phelps.