Dateline: Cincinnati
Brandon Phillips was always a shining star, even coming out of Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, his talents commanded attention.
His personality did too. Phillips was always, the brightest bulb in the pack. He called himself Dat Dude and he was indeed that guy. You were either in his corner or out of it. But whichever way you went, friend or foe, it was an intense experience.
His smile was infectious. His frown devestating.
On the field he was all competitor. He was never afraid to push the limits.
The Montreal Expos grabbed him in the second round of the 1999 draft. He never made it to the Major Leauge's with them. Instead he was the prospect that brought the established star in a trade. The Expos needed a starting pitcher badly in June 2002. They traded their two best prospects, Grady Sizemore and Phillips to the Cleveland Indians for ace Bartolo Colon.
Phillips started his Major League career with the Indians as a September call up that year, playing for manager Charlie Manuel. The next year new manager Eric Wedge put Phillips, 22, at second base for 112 games. He hit .208 with 18 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 33 RBI. He only walked 14 times and struck out 77 times. His on-base-percentage was a low .242. He stole four bases but was caught five times.
Phillips and Wedge clashed. The second baseman was sent to the minor leagues out of spring training in 2004 and 2005. He only played in six games at the major league level in both of those seasons, in spite of hitting .303 with eight home runs and stealing 14 bases at Triple A Buffalo in 135 games in 2004 and hitting .256 with 15 home runs in 112 games in 2005. He was designat for assignment out of spring training in Winter Haven in 2006.
The Reds’ general manager Wayne Krivsky, took advantage of rift and discontent to trade for Phillips on April 7, 2006 for a player to be named later, Jeff Stevens. It was a give away.
The Indians cried in their bat racks for years after that as Phillips ample talents bloomed in Cincinnati.
He produced for the Reds right away and quickly became a fan favorite. Not only did he hit .276 in 149 games with 28 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs, 75 RBI and 25 stolen bases, he was a flashy, effective defensive player.
Phillips became a bonfide star in 2007. He hit .288 with 26 doubles, six triples, 30 home runs and 94 RBI. He became part of an exclusive 30-30 club with 32 stolen bases.
Phillips won a Gold Glove, the first of four, in 2008.
He was an All-Star in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Phillips hit a career-high .300 with a career-high 38 doubles in 2011 along with Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He scored 107 runs in 207 and 100 in 2010. He drove in 98 runs in 2009 and 103 in 2013. He hit over .290 in both 2015 and .2016. He laced 30 or more doubles four straight years from 2009 through 2012.
During his 11 seasons with the Reds, Phillips hit .279 with 311 doubles, 32 triples and 191 home runs, which is 13th place on the Reds' all-time homer list. Eugenio Suarez just passed him this year.
He stole 209 bases and slashed .279/.325/.429 for a 753 OPS.
He was traded to the Atlanta Braves, to play in his hometown, in February 2017. Phillips finished his 17-year career with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
On Friday, April 23 Phillips signed a one-day contract with Cincinnati, so he could retire a Cincinnati Red.
At the pregame ceremony before the game Saturday (042526), Phillips told Reds’ fans, “I was at home in 2006 looking for another opportunity to provide for my family and show the world that I could play the game that I love.
New owner Bob Castellini, had fired Dan O’Brian as GM and hired Krivsky in February.
Krivsky traded Willy Mo Pena for Bronson Arroyo as one his first moves in spring training. After Phillips designation for assignment, Krivsky took advantage and made the trade before Phillips could be put on waivers . Now Arroyo and Phillips are both in the Reds’ Hall of Fame.
“Wayne Krivsky, Jerry Narron (Reds manager) and Mr. Castellini called me in and told me to be the best player, I can be.”
“All the dignitaries here,” said Phillips pointing to the members of the Reds’ HOF in attendance. “I can not believe I’m in the presence of you all. You were all better than me.”
Phillips told the story of Eric Davis, the senior advisor has worked with young Reds’ players as a senior advisor for the last 18 years. suggesting a longer bat.
“One day I was in the dugout,” Phillips said. “He was like Brandon what size bat do you use. I said 33 1/2, 32 (ounces). He said, “that’s a twig. Swing this bat right here. This is what I swung.’ He came out with a 35 inch bat. I was struggling at the time so I went ahead and tried it. The first at bat I went up with that long 35 inch. I struck out. I went back to the dugout and threw it in the trash can. He came downstairs and told me to try it one more time. I said this is the last time I’m going to try it. Next at bat, I hit that damn ball. I said Oh My Lord. I swung that 35 the rest of season.”
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