Prieto Can Call Himself a Major Leaguer at Last

The telephone call that outfielder Chris Prieto had waited for ... and waited for and waited for ... finally came.

He was sitting in a hotel room in Salt Lake City, relaxing after the Stingers’ game had been rained out Wednesday, when the Angels rang to tell him that he was being brought up to the major leagues.

“I guess he got pretty emotional,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said.

It was easy to understand why.

This was the end of a lengthy baseball journey that has taken him from Spokane, through Mexico City and other professional baseball backwaters, and finally brought him to a major league clubhouse Friday.

Prieto, 32, was called up by the Angels on Thursday after 12 seasons in the minor leagues and Mexico.

“I called my wife first,” Prieto said. “She started crying so much we couldn’t communicate at all. She called her parents, who were out to dinner. Everyone in the restaurant knew within five minutes.”

Prieto probably will be used as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner. After Steve Finley left Wednesday’s game with a tight left groin, the Angels needed a player who could cover the cavernous center field at Detroit’s Comerica Park.

Scioscia said that Prieto also could be used as a situational batter, owing to his bunting skills. Friday’s rainout could even get Prieto an appearance in today’s doubleheader.

“It’s great to see him get a chance, it shows how he stayed with it,” Scioscia said. “But what it also shows is he earned this.”

Prieto, a Fontana resident, was just glad to be here after 12 long seasons and more back-road bus rides than he cares to recount. He was drafted in the 24th round by the San Diego Padres in 1993. He has been with six organizations, did two tours in Mexico and had a brief stint with independent-league Chico.

Through it all, he said he never thought about quitting.

“I didn’t want to be sitting in a bar 30 or 40 years from now and wonder what might have been if I stuck it out,” Prieto said.

Prieto’s stay could be short; he may be returned to Salt Lake when the Angels need to recall a pitcher to fill Kelvim Escobar’s spot in the rotation on Tuesday.

No matter, Prieto said. He got here.

“This is like a dream come true,” Prieto said. “The dream is actually better because you can enjoy it. The reality is too big. I still have to pinch myself.”

The Angels signed Prieto as a free agent in December to give them outfield depth. He was hitting .279 with 19 runs and nine stolen bases in 25 games for Salt Lake.

He has been close to the majors on a few occasions. He reached the triple-A level three times and had expected a September call-up before. In 2000, he played 85 games for Albuquerque, the Dodgers’ triple-A team, but was loaned out to Mexico City for the remainder of the season.

“I stopped wondering whether I’d get called up,” he said. “I learned you had no control over that.”

But after 1,268 minor league games, Prieto was finally in the major leagues. “I don’t think it has hit me yet,” he said Friday. “Maybe it will when I pull on the uniform.”