Zach Eflin made the call he's always dreamed of making nine times Friday.

Stuck in a meeting at work, Larry Eflin had nine missed called on his phone.

The call from son to father finally connected on the 10th try, when the 22-year-old IronPigs pitcher shared the news: he was going to the major leagues.

"It was a pretty emotional conversation," Eflin said. "He was really proud of everything I've done. I just thanked him for everything he's done for me. He got me to this point and he's really excited."

Zach Eflin (Courtesy of Lehigh Valley IronPigs)

Eflin will start for the Phillies Tuesday against the Blue Jays. He's trying to get his dad to Toronto for the game, which would be the first time he sees his son pitch this year.

IronPigs manager Dave Brundage delivered the news to the righty just before the team took batting practice Friday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park. He explained that there was, in fact, a reason why Eflin's schedule had been yanked around all week: they were getting him in line for the Phillies.

Once it began to hit Eflin, he became emotional while trying to hold it all in.

"It was hard," he said. "I just walked up and hugged Brundy and (pitching coach Dave Lundquist) and thanked them for everything."

Eflin left Brundage's office and began calling his dad.

In 11 starts at Triple-A this year, Eflin has posted a 2.90 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 11 walks.

"The young man has earned the right to get an opportunity and hopefully he opens some eyes there as well," Brundage said. "I know he's really thrown the ball well here. Twenty-two years old, he's polished beyond his years and mature beyond his years."

Late Friday night, Eflin said it had yet to all sink in.

"I think it'll sink in when I get to Toronto and step out on the mound and take a couple deep breaths and look around," Eflin said.

Shortly before he found out he was getting the call, Eflin insisted he wasn't paying attention to any of the speculation about his potential promotion. But his teammates certainly were.

Eflin's roommate, Jake Thompson, said everyone had a pretty good idea of what was happening when Eflin's scheduled start Wednesday was originally pushed back to Saturday.

"Then we were kind of 50/50 because he had had a lot of 100-pitch outings," Thompson said. "(We thought), 'Alright, they might be giving him rest.'"'

Then when Eflin found out Wednesday night that he would actually be starting Thursday afternoon, this coming hours after Phillies starter Vince Velasquez threw just two pitches in a game before exiting with an injury, his teammates' suspicions were confirmed.

"We all kind of knew," Thompson said.

When Eflin was called into Brundage's office again Friday afternoon, he joked that maybe it would be another conversation about pushing him back again or bringing him back on short rest.

Instead, he will leave Allentown Sunday and join his new teammates in Toronto.

Until then, Eflin will try to get some sleep.

"I'll probably be up a while just dreaming and thinking of Tuesday," he said.

The moment he had dreamed of growing up finally happened. Zach Eflin is going to the major leagues.

"To walk in the office and have someone tell you you're going to be a big leaguer is extremely special," he said. "It was emotional. The journey through life to lead me to this point has been incredible. I'm just really happy."

Greg Joyce may be reached at gjoyce@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @GJoyce9.