Following the final game of any Lehigh Valley IronPigs season the clubhouse doors are generally locked for a while. Players are taking a few private moments to say goodbyes and to see who gets called to the manager’s office to be told they’re heading to Philadelphia for the final month of the major league season. On the final day of the 2013 season the clubhouse doors burst open and Cameron Rupp emerged with a smile befitting his large frame and his cellphone tightly in hand.

“I’m going up, dad,” were the first words he spoke into the phone after his father answered. It was one of those moments that baseball is so perfectly poised to provide. A 24-year-old guy telling his dad that the dream of both of them was coming true.

Fast forward almost five years and Rupp is back at Coca-Cola Park but this time in the visitor’s clubhouse. Rupp’s Phillies career ended this past March when he was first designated for assignment and then released by the Phillies. He caught on with Texas on a minor league contract but in early June was released by the Rangers — even though he had eight home runs and was hitting .274 in 32 games at Triple-A Round Rock. Three days later, the Twins signed him to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Rochester, which is how he wound up on the other side of the field when the Red Wings came to town to play Lehigh Valley earlier this month.

“It’s weird being over here,” laughed Rupp about the view from the first-base dugout. “It’s just one of those things and you have to adjust (to). I’m just happy that I’m still able to play the game.”

Rupp turns 30 in late September and he has no idea where he’ll be for his birthday or where he’ll be when spring training starts in Florida and Arizona. He does know that he can still play and that it’s not time to turn to the next chapter.

“I get asked that,” said Rupp about whether he’s thought about retiring. “I realize that I’m not a kid anymore but there’s something that comes with that. I’ve got experience and I can still play, I can still work with pitchers and hit a few home runs and I’m not thinking that. If nobody calls me [after the season] then I guess the decision will be made but I believe I still have a spot in this game.”

As it turned out, Rupp was released three days after his last game in the Lehigh Valley and the phone did ring. This time, it was the Seattle Mariners with an offer for his third minor league contract of the season and a chance to play in Tacoma. While he believes he can keep going, he’s realistic about where he is in his career. In fact, he was almost prophetic on his last trip to Coca-Cola Park.

“I know how this works,” said Rupp with a much more calculated smile than the one he flashed on the phone with his dad five years ago. “I still have a little pop in my bat but I’m not really hitting and if that doesn’t change, then something’s got to give. The fact that I can still catch helps me but in the end you have to be able to play at a higher level than where I am right now.”

GWYNN JUNIOR RETURNS

... Tony Gwynn Jr., who played for both the IronPigs and the Phillies in 2014, returned to Philadelphia as a radio broadcaster for the San Diego Padres this past weekend. Gwynn hit .152 in 80 games with the 2014 Phillies and .290 in 20 games with Lehigh Valley that season.

ALTHERR OPTIONED

... It reached the point where the Phillies had to do something with Aaron Altherr. The 27-year-old outfielder was hitting just .171 in limited playing time with the Phillies and riding the bench wasn’t doing him nor the team any good. The Phillies optioned Altherr to Lehigh Valley Monday along with reliever Mark Leiter Jr. The move was made to make room for starter Zach Eflin to come off the DL and the Phillies decided to keep reliever Yacksel Rios, who was recalled as the 26th man for Sunday’s doubleheader, and option out Leiter, who was struggling out of the Phillies bullpen.

QUINN UPDATE

... Roman Quinn is moving closer to returning to the IronPigs. The speedy but oft-injured outfielder has been out since May with a finger injury that required surgery. He was activated last Thursday and sent to Clearwater to start rehabbing and on Monday was bumped up to Double-A Reading. It’s possible that he’ll rejoin Lehigh Valley either this week or when they head out on the road next Monday.