READING - Five years ago, a call came through from the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
It was the 2008 Major League Baseball Entry Draft and Anthony Hewitt, a talent out of Salisbury (Conn.) High School, was still available.
"If you're still around, we'll be happy to take you," Hewitt recalls from the phone call.
But to Hewitt, "it was just words." A couple of other teams gave Hewitt the same sweet talk; they would draft him if available. Those teams' picks came and went, leaving Hewitt on the board.
When the 24th pick finally arrived, Hewitt was selected by Philadelphia. The Phillies were the one team that stuck to their word.
Five years later, and with the
most recent MLB Draft freshly finished, Hewitt finds himself in Double-A ball. When thinking back to that 2008 summer, and considering where he's playing now, this isn't where the outfielder envisioned himself - nor did the fans and media.
Hewitt knows that. He reads the articles.
But the same organization that stuck to its word five years ago is doing so now. Hewitt is still a prospect, despite the fact that at the end of this season he can become a minor-league free agent and sign somewhere else.
It's been a bumpy road to this point, but Hewitt is as confident as he's ever been about the present and where he's headed in the future.
Hewitt, an athletic, speedy right fielder, batted .241 a year ago with the High-A Clearwater Threshers, a career-best to that point.
In 2013, Hewitt is batting .256 with 17 RBIs and four home runs in 52 games. He's part of a platoon in the outfield and has batted in the bottom half of the order much of this season.
"When you're not where you want to be or where you expected to be, you recalculate the path that you're on," Hewitt said. "You set goals and keep on trucking.
"Everyone's path is different, I've come to realize. If I signed and produced from the get-go I'd probably be (in the majors)."
A certain expectation comes with being a first-round pick, and Hewitt has heard all the criticism the last five years. Developing thick skin has been a by-product.
"I don't really pay anybody the mind anymore," Hewitt said. "You might listen a little bit to what the media say, what people say, but at the end of the day you have to have a goal and stick with it and work your butt off, continuously, until you reach your own personal goals."
His 2013 numbers are slightly better than where he was in past seasons, but there's nothing flashy about what he's doing this season. It's hard for fans to be as excited as they once were about Hewitt's potential.
Be patient, Hewitt insists.
"And just look around."
Phillies fans frustrated with Hewitt's lack of progression only have to look as far as Domonic Brown to see that sometimes, it just takes guys a little bit longer.
Brown recently came off an offensive tear that saw him hit 12 home runs in the month of May. It was Brown's opportunity to stick it to the people that were naysayers for years and praise him now.
"I know how hard he works and that tastes so much better," Hewitt said. "To make people eat their words is a great feeling.
"It's just a game at the end of the day and it's based on failure. We all fail seven out of 10 times, or even more."
In the eyes of many, Hewitt is failing more than a first-round pick should.
Hewitt wants that Brown moment - to make the naysayers eat their words.
The fans and media just need to have patience, if you believe Hewitt.
"I know I'll have that moment," Hewitt said. "I'm just waiting for my opportunity. I'm just going to stay in my lane, so to speak, and continue to work hard and have fun playing wherever I'm playing. I'll get that phone call or that opportunity one day."
(Follow Burkhart and the Reading Fightin Phils on Twitter @AnthonyBurkhart)