Published: June 27, 2009 11:09 pm         

Josh Phegley signs pro contract with Chicago White Sox

TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute North graduate Josh Phegley has officially signed his professional contract with the Chicago White Sox organization. Phegley was selected in the compensation A round (38th overall) — between the first and second round — of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft earlier in June.

Phegley signed a contract Thursday in Chicago, with the deal including a signing bonus of $858,600 plus $30,000 to be used for college, according to his father John.

After spending the night in Chicago on Thursday, Josh passed his physical on Friday. During their trip, both Josh and his father were given a tour of U.S. Cellular Field, which included meeting White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

Phegley, 21, reported to the Kannapolis Intimidators, the team’s Class A team, on Saturday. His name appeared on their roster late Saturday afternoon. Kannapolis (N.C.) is located just over 25 miles northeast of Charlotte.

Phegley was part of the Draft compensation for the Oakland A’s signing free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera, after the White Sox had offered Cabrera salary arbitration.

Phegley hit .344 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs this year, his junior season at Indiana University, and was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award (college baseball’s top catcher) and the Golden Spikes Award (best amateur player).

The first-team All-Big Ten selection was characterized as a strong hitter, who is still learning the nuances of the catcher’s position at the time of the draft.

“At the outset, you talk about looking at certain needs, but at the same time, you want the best guys on the board,” said White Sox director of amateur scouting Doug Laumann back on Draft day. “It felt like we did both.

“We got a catcher we really like at the sandwich pick, a strong offensive catcher. It was an area where we needed some help, some depth.”