Brandon Phillips facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brandon Phillips |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Phillips with the Cincinnati Reds in 2011
|
|||
| Second baseman | |||
| Born: June 28, 1981 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 13, 2002, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2018, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .275 | ||
| Hits | 2,029 | ||
| Home runs | 211 | ||
| Runs batted in | 951 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Brandon Emil Phillips (born June 28, 1981) is an American former professional baseball player. He was a talented second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for teams like the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox. Phillips was known for his strong right-handed batting and throwing.
Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Phillips was chosen by the Montreal Expos in the 1999 draft. In 2002, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians and made his MLB debut that same year. He spent a few years moving between the major and minor leagues. In 2006, Phillips joined the Cincinnati Reds. There, he became one of the best second basemen in baseball. He won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for his amazing defense. He also earned one Silver Slugger Award for his hitting and was picked for three National League All-Star teams. Phillips even made history in one game with incredible hitting and base stealing! Because of this, his uniform and cleats from that game are now on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Brandon Phillips grew up loving baseball. His father, James Phillips, even runs a baseball center in Georgia. Brandon's sister, Porsha Phillips, played in the WNBA. His younger brother, PJ Phillips, is also involved in baseball as a manager.
Brandon went to Redan High School in Georgia. He was a star in both basketball and baseball there. His high school even retired his number 7 jersey in 2003. Growing up, Brandon's favorite baseball player was Barry Larkin, a shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds.
In 1999, Brandon was drafted by the Montreal Expos as a shortstop. This happened after he had planned to play both baseball and football at the University of Georgia. But he decided to sign with the Expos instead.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Cleveland Indians
After playing in the Expos' minor league system for a few years, Brandon Phillips was part of a big trade. In June 2002, he moved from the Montreal Expos to the Cleveland Indians. This trade involved several players, including Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee.
In 2003, Phillips became the starting second baseman for the Indians. He had a good hitting streak of six games that season. He even hit his first "walk-off home run," which means he hit a home run that won the game for his team. After a tough period, he spent some time in the minor leagues with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He finished the season with a .208 batting average and good defense.
He spent most of 2004 and 2005 playing for the Buffalo Bisons. He had strong hitting streaks and played well in the minor league playoffs. He also played a few games for the Indians during these years. In his four seasons with the Indians, Phillips played in 135 major league games.
Becoming a Star with the Cincinnati Reds
Making an Immediate Impact (2006)
In April 2006, Brandon Phillips was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. This trade was a big turning point for him. He quickly made a name for himself, being named the National League Player of the Week in his first month with the Reds. He hit very well and drove in many runs.
That month, he hit his first career "grand slam," a home run with the bases loaded. He also stole 16 bases in a row! He led the Reds in hits and games with multiple hits. Phillips also led all National League second basemen in stolen bases with 25. He finished the season with a .276 batting average, 17 home runs, and 75 runs batted in (RBI).
Joining the 30-30 Club (2007)
The 2007 season was amazing for Phillips. He hit 30 home runs and stole 32 bases. This made him the first Reds second baseman to join the exclusive "30–30 club" (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in one season). He was only the third Reds player ever to achieve this.
He also made an incredible play on August 30, 2007. With the Reds winning by one run in the bottom of the 9th inning, a Pirates player hit a single. It looked like the runner from second base would score easily. But Phillips grabbed the ball with his bare hand in shallow right field and threw it home to get the runner out, winning the game! He also broke the Reds' record for most home runs by a second baseman.
Phillips finished 2007 with 187 hits, 107 runs, and 94 RBIs. He led the Reds in runs, hits, and stolen bases. In February 2008, he signed a four-year contract extension with the Reds.
Winning His First Gold Glove (2008)
.jpg)
In 2008, Phillips continued to play well. He hit 21 home runs and stole 23 bases. He also won his first Gold Glove Award for his outstanding defense. He led all National League second basemen with a .990 fielding percentage, meaning he made very few errors. He also had a streak of 78 games without making an error. He also won a Fielding Bible Award as the best fielding second baseman in MLB.
Consistent Performance (2009-2010)
In 2009, Phillips hit .276 with 20 home runs and 98 RBIs. He also stole 25 bases.
The 2010 season was his first All-Star season. He batted .275 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs. During this season, Phillips was involved in a memorable moment with the St. Louis Cardinals. Before a game, he made some strong comments about the Cardinals. The next night, a big argument broke out between the two teams at home plate. Phillips was at the center of it. Later that year, he won his second Gold Glove Award.
More Awards and Milestones (2011)
Phillips continued to make amazing defensive plays in 2011. In one game, he picked up a rolling ball barehanded and threw it between his legs to get an out at first base.
On July 1, he hit his 1,000th career hit, which was a home run against the Cleveland Indians. His great plays and consistent hitting earned him his second straight All-Star game selection. In November 2011, he won his third Gold Glove Award. His fielding percentage was an impressive .992. The very next day, he won his first Silver Slugger Award for his excellent hitting. He batted .300 with 183 hits, 38 doubles, and 18 home runs.
Contract and Continued Success (2012-2013)
In April 2012, Phillips signed a new six-year contract with the Reds. He continued to be a strong player, batting .281 with 18 home runs and 77 RBIs.
In 2013, Phillips was the Reds' starting second baseman and a key hitter. He had a 12-game hitting streak in May. He was chosen as the starting second baseman for the National League team in the All-Star Game. He finished the season with 18 home runs and 103 RBIs. He also won another Gold Glove Award, his fourth, with a .987 fielding percentage.
Later Years with the Reds (2014-2016)
In 2014, Phillips had to go on the disabled list due to a thumb injury. Even with the injury, he had only made one error in 86 games at second base. He returned later in the season and finished with a .266 batting average. He was nominated for his fifth Gold Glove Award that year.
In 2015, the All-Star Game was held at the Reds' home stadium. Phillips had a friendly moment with Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, despite their past on-field rivalry. Phillips had a great game on July 30, hitting two home runs and stealing two bases. He was only the 15th player in MLB history to have a multi-homer, multi-steal game since 1901. He finished the season batting .294 with 173 hits and 23 stolen bases. He was again a finalist for the Gold Glove Award.
In his final season with the Reds in 2016, Phillips played in 141 games. He batted .291 with 11 home runs and 64 RBIs.
Moving to Other Teams
Atlanta Braves (2017)
In February 2017, Brandon Phillips was traded to the Atlanta Braves. He even switched positions late in the season, playing third base to help a younger player, Ozzie Albies, join the team. On August 30, Phillips got his 2,000th career hit. In 120 games for the Braves, he batted .291 with 11 home runs.
Los Angeles Angels (2017)
At the end of August 2017, Phillips was traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Angels. He played 24 games for the Angels before the season ended.
Boston Red Sox (2018)
In June 2018, Phillips signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He played for their minor league teams before joining the Red Sox in September. He made a memorable debut for Boston, hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning to help the Red Sox win a comeback game! Phillips was the first Red Sox player to wear uniform number 0. He played in nine games for the Red Sox, who went on to win the World Series that year.
Independent and Mexican League Baseball
After his time in MLB, Phillips played in independent baseball leagues. In 2019, he signed with the Vallejo Admirals, a team managed by his younger brother P.J. Phillips. He also played for the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican League, where he hit three home runs and 11 doubles.
In 2020, Phillips played briefly for the Baseball Brilliance team.
Lexington Legends and Ownership (2020-2022)
_(cropped).jpg)
In August 2020, Phillips joined the Lexington Legends. He quickly made an impact, hitting a "walk-off" home run (a home run that wins the game) in his third game for the team.
In 2021, the Legends joined the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Phillips became a co-owner of the team! This made him the first player in the Atlantic League to play for a team he also co-owned. He played in 54 games, hitting 14 home runs and helping the Legends win the league championship. He played another season in 2022 before the team was sold to new owners.
Life Outside Baseball
Brandon Phillips has a daughter named Bailey Quinn Phillips with his partner, Jade Cargill. Jade Cargill is a fitness model and professional wrestler.
In March 2023, Phillips and Cargill were announced as owners of the Texas Smoke. This is a professional softball team in Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF), based in Austin, Texas. The Texas Smoke had a fantastic first season, winning the 2023 WPF regular season. They then swept their opponents, the USSSA Pride, in the first-ever Women's Professional Fastpitch championship series with a big 14–2 win!
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Gold Glove Award winners at second base
- List of Silver Slugger Award winners at second base
