Jason Wheeler enjoys 'cool moment' of being in MLB

This got lost in the historic late-inning collapse by the Twins bullpen on Monday but pitcher Jason Wheeler got his first call-up to the majors, a special moment for him and his family.

Wheeler wasn't used as the bullpen unraveled in a 16-8 loss to the Houston Astros. It's unclear how long his stay will last, but the 26-year-old savored his first opportunity in the big leagues after being in the minors since 2012.

He was practically giddy after seeing his jersey hanging in his locker stall when he walked into the clubhouse at Target Field on Monday morning.

"You've got to somewhat act like you've been here [before] but I don't really care too much about acting like that," he said. "This is a cool moment. I'm going to enjoy it."

Wheeler was roasting s'mores Sunday evening with a few friends in Rochester, N.Y., when he received a phone call from a Chicago area code. He didn't recognize the number but he decided to answer it rather than let it go to voicemail.

Rochester manager Mike Quade was on the other end, telling him to pack his bags for a 6:45 a.m. flight to Minneapolis.

"Joy is the word I would use to describe it," Wheeler said. "With some nerves mixed in."

But that phone call and plane ride become pinch-me moments for players experiencing it for the first time. Wheeler was selected in the eighth round of the 2011 draft.

"It's good to be rewarded and to be seen as someone they want to come up here and help out," he said.

Wheeler hung up with Quade and called his wife, Maddie, back in North Carolina. His hands were shaking and sweaty.

"She was in disbelief," Wheeler said.

His next call went to his mom Heather in California. His parents were out to dinner with their nephew when Heather's phone rang around 7:30 p.m. She remarked that it was an unusual time for her son to be calling.

His mom shrieked so loud that the whole restaurant looked, thinking something was wrong.

"I had tears in my eyes I was so excited," she said.

Out of breath, she passed the phone to her husband, Gerry.

"That was pretty cool to hear that reaction," Jason said.

Wheeler's parents immediately dialed Delta to make plans, hoping to get to Target Field for Monday's afternoon game, if possible. They found a red-eye leaving at 12:30 a.m.

"It looked pretty good," she said. "It's in my refrigerator."

His parents hustled home from the restaurant, threw some clothes in a suitcase and made it to LAX at 10:30 p.m. Their plane landed at MSP around 6:30 a.m. Monday.

"It's been crazy, no sleep," Heather said a few hours before first pitch.

Jason's wife, Maddie, flew in from North Carolina. Her parents and two brothers flew from Massachusetts.

Wheeler's brother Ryan, who played in three major-league seasons split between Arizona and Colorado, found an overnight flight, along with his wife.

Heather's sister is arriving in town Tuesday.

They all came on short notice. Heather took pictures of her son on the field signing autographs for fans before Monday's game.

"No way were we going to miss this," she said. "This is very special. We're very grateful to all the people that helped him develop."

Wheeler was scheduled to start for Rochester on Monday. Instead, he took an early flight to Minneapolis, dropped his stuff at the hotel and made his way to Target Field.

He attended Twinsfest a few years ago so he had been to the ballpark. This time was extra special.

Wheeler is in his sixth professional season as a starting pitcher. The Twins added him to the 40-man roster before 2015 season but removed him after a disappointing season.

In 15 starts at Rochester that season, he went 1-7 with a 6.58 earned run average.

"It's obviously not fun to get taken off the roster and get a call from the general manager saying they have to make a move," Wheeler said. "It was just a hurdle. I knew I was better than what I did in that 2015 season. I just had to figure out some things."

Wheeler said he never lost faith that he could keep climbing the organizational ladder. She spent most of last season at Rochester and pitched much better. He is 4-1 with a 4.50 ERA this season with 37 strikeouts and 10 walks.

The Twins called him up as a reliever because their bullpen is running on fumes. Wheeler doesn't know if he will be used or how long he will stay. But he described his first taste of major league baseball as a "pretty surreal feeling."